Trust Co. of Vermont Acquires New Position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated $UNH

Key Points

• Trust Co. of Vermont purchased 6,459 UnitedHealth shares during the second quarter, valued at approximately $2.685 million. Institutional investors collectively own 87.86% of UNH.
• Analysts remain broadly positive, with a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating and an average price target of $455.92; recent reports included upgraded earnings estimates and price targets as high as $529.
• UnitedHealth exceeded quarterly earnings and revenue expectations and maintained 2026 EPS guidance of $19.50–$20.00, while paying a quarterly dividend of $2.32 per share. However, IRS tax scrutiny and an investor lawsuit related to the Change Healthcare acquisition remain risks.

Trust Co. of Vermont purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 6,459 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock, valued at approximately $2,685,000.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in UNH. LFG Wealth Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 3.3% in the 2nd quarter. LFG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 853 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $355,000 after buying an additional 27 shares during the period. Synergy Financial Group LTD lifted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 3.1% during the 2nd quarter. Synergy Financial Group LTD now owns 887 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $369,000 after buying an additional 27 shares in the last quarter. Ares Financial Consulting LLC increased its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 7.2% during the second quarter. Ares Financial Consulting LLC now owns 419 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $174,000 after purchasing an additional 28 shares in the last quarter. Rockland Trust Co. increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 1.1% during the 2nd quarter. Rockland Trust Co. now owns 2,589 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $1,076,000 after buying an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Matrix Trust Co boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 24.8% in the second quarter. Matrix Trust Co now owns 146 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $61,000 after acquiring an additional 29 shares during the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Piper Sandler set a $477.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Thursday, July 16th. Erste Group Bank upgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, April 27th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $468.00 to $529.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, July 17th. Wall Street Zen upgraded UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, August 8th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets set a $512.00 price objective on UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Tuesday, July 21st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have issued a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $455.92.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CEO Patrick Hugh Conway sold 500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $410.00, for a total value of $205,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 16,497 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,763,770. This represents a 2.94% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.19% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Key Headlines Impacting UnitedHealth Group

Here are the key news stories impacting UnitedHealth Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analyst estimates moved higher. Zacks Research maintained a “Strong-Buy” rating and raised its forecasts for several periods, including FY2027 EPS to $22.28 from $22.16, FY2028 EPS to $25.74 from $25.69, Q1 2027 EPS to $7.12, Q2 2027 EPS to $6.35 and Q1 2028 EPS to $7.36. The firm also sharply lifted its Q2 2028 estimate to $7.19 from $5.84. These revisions signal expectations for stronger profitability and support the recovery case for UNH. MarketBeat UnitedHealth Group analyst estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Valuation and operating trends remain constructive. A Zacks analysis said UNH looked reasonably valued at approximately 18.39 times earnings, citing improving medical costs, rising EPS estimates and shareholder capital returns as potential catalysts. The company’s latest reported quarter also exceeded earnings and revenue expectations, while full-year 2026 guidance remains $19.50–$20.00 per share. UnitedHealth Stock Looks Reasonable at 18.39X P/E
• Neutral Sentiment: Some longer-term Zacks revisions were mixed: Q3 2027 EPS was reduced to $4.74 from $4.81 and Q4 2027 EPS to $4.07 from $4.12, partially offsetting the upward revisions elsewhere. UnitedHealth Group estimates
• Negative Sentiment: Tax and legal uncertainty pressured sentiment. The IRS is examining whether UnitedHealth used foreign subsidiaries to reduce taxable income over four years, potentially increasing its tax liability, although the amount at stake has not been disclosed. Separately, an investor lawsuit alleges governance, cybersecurity and internal-control failures connected to the Change Healthcare acquisition and its major data breach. IRS scrutiny of UnitedHealth tax practices UnitedHealth investor lawsuit

UnitedHealth Group Stock Down 1.0%

UnitedHealth Group stock opened at $384.60 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $345.21 billion, a PE ratio of 24.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 0.78. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $255.96 and a fifty-two week high of $461.62. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $414.33 and a 200 day moving average price of $355.71.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.38 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.94 by $1.44. The company had revenue of $112.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $110.81 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 16.53% and a net margin of 3.14%.UnitedHealth Group's revenue was up .4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $4.08 EPS. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 19.500-20.000 EPS. Research analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 19.69 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 22nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 14th will be given a dividend of $2.32 per share. This represents a $9.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 14th. UnitedHealth Group's payout ratio is 59.72%.

UnitedHealth Group Company Profile

UnitedHealth Group Inc is a diversified health care company headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, that operates two primary business platforms: UnitedHealthcare and Optum. Founded in 1977, the company provides a broad range of health benefits and health care services to individuals, employers, governmental entities and other organizations. Its operations span commercial employer-sponsored plans, individual and Medicare and Medicaid programs, and services for customers and health systems in the United States and selected international markets.

UnitedHealthcare is the company's benefits business, administering health plans and networks, managing provider relationships, and offering coverage products for employers, individuals, and government-sponsored programs.

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