UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Holdings Raised by Mediolanum International Funds Ltd

Key Points

• Mediolanum International Funds Ltd increased its position in UnitedHealth Group by 1.7%, acquiring an additional 3,053 shares, bringing its total holdings to 179,673 shares valued at approximately $92.7 million.
• UnitedHealth Group recently raised its quarterly dividend from $2.10 to $2.21, resulting in an annual yield of 3.15% and a payout ratio of 37.02%.
• Analysts have generally downgraded their ratings on UnitedHealth Group; the average rating is currently a "Moderate Buy" with a consensus target price of $392.29.

Mediolanum International Funds Ltd boosted its stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 1.7% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 179,673 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after buying an additional 3,053 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group makes up 1.3% of Mediolanum International Funds Ltd's portfolio, making the stock its 11th largest holding. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $92,718,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Citizens National Bank Trust Department grew its stake in 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 worth $9,368,000 after buying an additional 170 shares in the last quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH now owns 530,103 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $277,641,000 after purchasing an additional 1,465 shares during the last quarter. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $515,000. Full Sail Capital LLC boosted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 2.1% during the 4th quarter. Full Sail Capital LLC now owns 1,612 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $815,000 after acquiring an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Soros Fund Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter worth approximately $39,413,000. Institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $351.00 to $306.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $405.00 to $418.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, June 20th. TD Securities reiterated a "hold" rating and issued a $308.00 price target (down previously from $520.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Monday, May 19th. 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. Finally, Baird R W cut UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $392.29.

Insider Buying and Selling at UnitedHealth Group

In other UnitedHealth Group news, CEO Patrick Hugh Conway sold 589 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $305.00, for a total transaction of $179,645.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 10,398 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,171,390. The trade was a 5.36% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Kristen Gil purchased 3,700 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 15th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $271.17 per share, with a total value of $1,003,329.00. Following the acquisition, the director owned 3,818 shares in the company, valued at $1,035,327.06. This represents a 3,135.59% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders bought 109,408 shares of company stock valued at $31,607,768 in the last quarter. Insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Down 5.0%

Shares of UnitedHealth Group stock traded down $13.99 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $268.14. The company's stock had a trading volume of 25,033,751 shares, compared to its average volume of 11,481,834. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.85. The stock has a market cap of $243.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.39 and a beta of 0.45. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $300.91 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $422.56. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 52 week low of $248.88 and a 52 week high of $630.73.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 29th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $4.08 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $5.16 by ($1.08). UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 5.39% and a return on equity of 26.29%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $6.80 earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 12.9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 16th were issued a dividend of $2.21 per share. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.30%. This is a boost from UnitedHealth Group's previous quarterly dividend of $2.10. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 16th. UnitedHealth Group's payout ratio is presently 37.02%.

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.