UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Position Lessened by Olstein Capital Management L.P.

Olstein Capital Management L.P. lessened its holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 7.9% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 14,000 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after selling 1,200 shares during the period. Olstein Capital Management L.P.'s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $7,333,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Parisi Gray Wealth Management raised its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 0.7% in the first quarter. Parisi Gray Wealth Management now owns 6,110 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $3,200,000 after buying an additional 42 shares during the period. Octavia Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 6.5% in the first quarter. Octavia Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 726 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $380,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. Everest Management Corp. acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the first quarter worth $201,000. Tounjian Advisory Partners LLC acquired a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the first quarter worth about $9,426,000. Finally, Northstar Advisory Group LLC acquired a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,273,000. Institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other UnitedHealth Group news, CEO Stephen J. Hemsley purchased 86,700 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, May 16th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $288.57 per share, for a total transaction of $25,019,019.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 679,493 shares in the company, valued at $196,081,295.01. This represents a 14.63% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO John F. Rex bought 17,175 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 16th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $291.12 per share, for a total transaction of $4,999,986.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 203,796 shares of the company's stock, valued at $59,329,091.52. This trade represents a 9.20% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders purchased 109,408 shares of company stock valued at $31,607,768 over the last 90 days. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently weighed in on UNH. Hsbc Global Res downgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "moderate sell" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 21st. Piper Sandler decreased their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $552.00 to $353.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, June 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $525.00 to $355.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 16th. Bank of America lowered shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and decreased their price target for the company from $560.00 to $350.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 14th. Finally, Mizuho decreased their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $515.00 to $350.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, May 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $426.52.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

NYSE:UNH traded up $6.86 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $317.42. 12,225,404 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,125,917. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The stock has a market capitalization of $287.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.48, a P/E/G ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.45. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 52 week low of $248.88 and a 52 week high of $630.73. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $395.60 and a 200-day simple moving average of $478.20.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results 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). The business had revenue of $109.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $111.56 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.69% and a net margin of 3.60%. During the same period last year, the company posted $6.91 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 16th will be paid a $2.21 dividend. This is a boost from UnitedHealth Group's previous quarterly dividend of $2.10. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 16th. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.78%. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is presently 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.