Unisphere Establishment Boosts Stock Position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated $UNH

Key Points

• Unisphere Establishment increased its holdings of UnitedHealth Group stock by 12.5%, acquiring an additional 50,000 shares in the first quarter, totaling 450,000 shares worth approximately $235.69 million.
• UnitedHealth Group's quarterly earnings report revealed an EPS of $4.08, missing analyst expectations, with projected earnings for FY 2025 set at $16.00.
• The company recently declared a quarterly dividend of $2.21 per share, reflecting an annualized dividend yield of 2.9% and a payout ratio of 38.30%.

Unisphere Establishment raised its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 12.5% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 450,000 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after purchasing an additional 50,000 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group accounts for 2.1% of Unisphere Establishment's portfolio, making the stock its 13th largest position. Unisphere Establishment's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $235,688,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bayforest Capital Ltd boosted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 685.7% during the 1st quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd now owns 55 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the period. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd raised its position in shares of 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 period. Copia Wealth Management purchased a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter valued at $42,000. IAG Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the first quarter valued at about $42,000. Finally, Investment Management Corp VA ADV bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth about $44,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.86% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Down 0.5%

Shares of UNH traded down $1.53 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $307.27. The stock had a trading volume of 9,530,699 shares, compared to its average volume of 18,019,772. The firm has a market capitalization of $278.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.85. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 1-year low of $234.60 and a 1-year high of $630.73. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $288.51 and a 200-day simple moving average of $377.17.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last announced its 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 return on equity of 23.32% and a net margin of 5.04%.The business had revenue of $111.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $111.75 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $6.80 EPS. UnitedHealth Group's quarterly revenue was up 12.9% on a year-over-year basis. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 16.000- EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

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. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 15th. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.9%. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is presently 38.30%.

Insider Transactions at UnitedHealth Group

In related news, CEO Patrick Hugh Conway sold 589 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $305.00, for a total value of $179,645.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 10,398 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,171,390. The trade was a 5.36% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UNH has been the subject of several recent research reports. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $355.00 to $286.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. 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. Wall Street Zen lowered UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, May 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $521.00 to $362.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, May 14th. Finally, Raymond James Financial downgraded UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "market perform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 14th. Fifteen investment 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, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $353.00.

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.