Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky Decreases Stock Position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky trimmed its holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 12.8% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 169,862 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after selling 25,020 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group accounts for about 0.8% of Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky's portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest holding. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $88,965,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Marshall & Sterling Wealth Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Hurley Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Kapitalo Investimentos Ltda bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth $41,000. Finally, Copia Wealth Management bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth $42,000. 87.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of UnitedHealth Group stock traded up $2.62 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $284.76. The company had a trading volume of 11,145,744 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,843,157. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a one year low of $248.88 and a one year high of $630.73. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $304.47 and a 200 day simple moving average of $432.39. 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 firm has a market cap of $258.32 billion, a PE ratio of 11.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 0.45.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 24th. Investors of record on Monday, June 16th were given a $2.21 dividend. This represents a $8.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.10%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 16th. This is an increase from UnitedHealth Group's previous quarterly dividend of $2.10. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 37.02%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have commented on UNH shares. TD Cowen lowered UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $308.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Monday, May 19th. Bank of America downgraded UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $560.00 to $350.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 14th. Oppenheimer dropped their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $600.00 to $400.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, May 14th. KeyCorp lowered their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $450.00 to $400.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, June 2nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $405.00 to $418.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, June 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $394.43.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Stephen J. Hemsley acquired 86,700 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated 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 acquisition, the chief executive officer owned 679,493 shares in the company, valued at approximately $196,081,295.01. This represents a 14.63% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Kristen Gil bought 3,700 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 15th. The stock was acquired at an average cost 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 $1,035,327.06. The trade was a 3,135.59% 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 in the last ninety days. 0.28% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.