UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Shares Purchased by Liberty One Investment Management LLC

Liberty One Investment Management LLC increased its position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 580.8% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 56,155 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after acquiring an additional 47,907 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group makes up about 3.0% of Liberty One Investment Management LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 13th biggest holding. Liberty One Investment Management LLC's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $29,411,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brighton Jones LLC raised its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 176.2% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 44,249 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $22,384,000 after buying an additional 28,231 shares during the last quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 137.1% in the 4th quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 4,019 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $2,033,000 after purchasing an additional 2,324 shares in the last quarter. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG increased its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 3.9% in the 4th quarter. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG now owns 263,655 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $133,373,000 after purchasing an additional 9,872 shares in the last quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 52.1% in the 4th quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 3,734 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $1,889,000 after purchasing an additional 1,279 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Machina Capital S.A.S. purchased a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $354,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at UnitedHealth Group

In related news, Director Kristen Gil acquired 3,700 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 15th. The stock was bought at an average price of $271.17 per share, for a total transaction of $1,003,329.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director directly owned 3,818 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,035,327.06. The trade was a 3,135.59% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Timothy Patrick Flynn acquired 1,533 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 14th. The stock was bought at an average price of $320.80 per share, with a total value of $491,786.40. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 6,033 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,935,386.40. This represents a 34.07% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders have bought a total of 109,408 shares of company stock valued at $31,607,768 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UNH has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $563.00 to $374.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, May 14th. Barclays lowered their target price on UnitedHealth Group to $350.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $525.00 to $355.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $405.00 to $418.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, June 20th. Finally, KeyCorp decreased their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $450.00 to $400.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, June 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and sixteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $415.57.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 1.2%

Shares of UnitedHealth Group stock traded up $3.79 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $307.50. 9,600,755 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,574,038. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 1 year low of $248.88 and a 1 year high of $630.73. The stock's fifty day moving average is $322.66 and its 200 day moving average is $445.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 0.85. The firm has a market cap of $278.95 billion, a PE ratio of 12.88, a PEG ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 0.45.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 17th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.20 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $7.29 by ($0.09). UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.29% and a net margin of 5.39%. The company had revenue of $109.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $111.56 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $6.91 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 24th. Investors of record on Monday, June 16th were issued a $2.21 dividend. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.87%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 16th. This is a positive change from UnitedHealth Group's previous quarterly dividend of $2.10. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is 37.02%.

About UnitedHealth Group

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.