UnitedHealth Group Incorporated $UNH Shares Bought by Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd

Key Points

• Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 5.7%, acquiring an additional 19,700 shares for a total of 365,617 shares, valued at approximately $114 million.
• UnitedHealth Group reported earnings of $4.08 per share for the last quarter, missing analysts' estimates by $0.37, and its revenue was $111.62 billion, slightly below expectations.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $2.21 per share with an annualized yield of 2.6%, reflecting a payout ratio of 38.30%.

Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 5.7% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 365,617 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after purchasing an additional 19,700 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group comprises approximately 1.0% of Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd's portfolio, making the stock its 15th biggest position. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $114,062,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bayforest Capital Ltd boosted 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 acquiring an additional 48 shares during the period. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 416.7% in the first quarter. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd now owns 62 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares during the period. Copia Wealth Management acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter worth $42,000. IAG Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the first quarter worth $42,000. Finally, Investment Management Corp VA ADV acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter worth $44,000. 87.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on UNH shares. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and set a $440.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Tuesday, August 26th. Robert W. Baird reissued an "underperform" rating and issued a $198.00 target price (down previously from $312.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Thursday, July 31st. Wall Street Zen downgraded UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, May 24th. Bank of America raised their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $290.00 to $325.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Monday, August 18th. Finally, Oppenheimer dropped their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $400.00 to $325.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Sixteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $358.95.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 0.6%

UNH stock traded up $1.90 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $336.72. 13,528,738 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 13,748,202. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12-month low of $234.60 and a 12-month high of $630.73. 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 market capitalization of $304.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 0.45. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $295.67 and a 200-day moving average price of $365.19.

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 for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $4.45 by ($0.37). UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 5.04% and a return on equity of 23.32%. The firm had revenue of $111.62 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $111.75 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $6.80 earnings per share. UnitedHealth Group's revenue was up 12.9% compared to the same quarter last year. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 16.000- EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 EPS for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 23rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 15th will be issued a $2.21 dividend. This represents a $8.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 15th. UnitedHealth Group's payout ratio is 38.30%.

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.