Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC Buys 43,893 Shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Key Points

• Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 13.0%, owning 380,359 shares valued at $199.21 million.
• Institutional investors hold 87.86% of UnitedHealth Group's stock, with notable increases from firms like GAMMA Investing LLC and Vanguard Group.
• UnitedHealth Group announced a quarterly dividend of $2.21 per share, representing a yield of 3.3% and a payout ratio of 38.30%.

Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC raised its holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 13.0% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 380,359 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after acquiring an additional 43,893 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group accounts for about 1.0% of Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 20th biggest holding. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $199,212,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Citizens National Bank Trust Department increased its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1.0% in the 1st quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department now owns 17,886 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $9,368,000 after purchasing an additional 170 shares during the period. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH increased its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 0.3% in the first quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH now owns 530,103 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $277,641,000 after buying an additional 1,465 shares during the last quarter. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter worth approximately $515,000. Full Sail Capital LLC increased its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 2.1% in the fourth quarter. Full Sail Capital LLC now owns 1,612 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $815,000 after buying an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Soros Fund Management LLC acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter worth approximately $39,413,000. 87.86% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

UNH stock traded down $0.02 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $271.79. The stock had a trading volume of 22,346,613 shares, compared to its average volume of 18,776,074. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $288.90 and a 200 day simple moving average of $399.47. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 52 week low of $234.60 and a 52 week high of $630.73. The firm has a market capitalization of $246.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.78, a P/E/G ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 0.43.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 29th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $4.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.45 by ($0.37). UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 23.32% and a net margin of 5.04%. The company had revenue of $111.62 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $111.75 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $6.80 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 12.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 23rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 15th will be paid a $2.21 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 15th. This represents a $8.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.3%. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 38.30%.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Stephen J. Hemsley acquired 86,700 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 16th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $288.57 per share, for a total transaction of $25,019,019.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 679,493 shares in the company, valued at $196,081,295.01. This trade represents a 14.63% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Patrick Hugh Conway sold 589 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $305.00, for a total value of $179,645.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 10,398 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,171,390. This trade represents a 5.36% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $418.00 to $310.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 6th. Oppenheimer lowered their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $400.00 to $325.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Argus downgraded UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, April 21st. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $306.00 to $267.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, August 4th. Finally, Erste Group Bank downgraded UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $366.52.

UnitedHealth Group Company Profile

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage.