Perpetual Ltd Sells 298,263 Shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated $UNH

Key Points

• Perpetual Ltd dramatically reduced its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 96.2%, from 309,987 shares to 11,724, as reported in its latest SEC filing.
• Despite recent adjustments in holdings, hedge funds and institutional investors own a significant 87.86% of UnitedHealth Group's stock, showcasing strong institutional interest.
• UnitedHealth Group announced a quarterly dividend of $2.21 per share, resulting in an annualized dividend yield of 2.6%.

Perpetual Ltd lowered its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 96.2% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 11,724 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after selling 298,263 shares during the period. Perpetual Ltd's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $3,658,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNH. Bayforest Capital Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 685.7% in the first quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd now owns 55 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd increased its position in UnitedHealth Group by 416.7% during the first quarter. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd now owns 62 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. IAG Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the first quarter worth approximately $42,000. Copia Wealth Management purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter worth approximately $42,000. Finally, O Brien Wealth Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 74.0% in the first quarter. O Brien Wealth Partners LLC now owns 87 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $46,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have commented on UNH. Sanford C. Bernstein increased their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $337.00 to $379.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, September 5th. Truist Financial increased their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $310.00 to $365.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, September 9th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $306.00 to $267.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 4th. Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $290.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Monday, August 18th. Finally, Piper Sandler decreased their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $353.00 to $317.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Sixteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $358.95.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNH traded up $10.39 on Tuesday, hitting $351.69. The stock had a trading volume of 5,626,442 shares, compared to its average volume of 12,966,014. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $296.49 and its 200-day moving average price is $362.50. The company has a market capitalization of $318.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 0.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 0.85. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a twelve month low of $234.60 and a twelve month high of $630.73.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results 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). The company had revenue of $111.62 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $111.75 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 23.32% and a net margin of 5.04%.The firm's quarterly revenue was up 12.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $6.80 EPS. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 16.000- EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 23rd. Investors of record on Monday, September 15th will be given a dividend of $2.21 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 15th. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.5%. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is 38.30%.

UnitedHealth Group 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.