Cetera Investment Advisers Has $129.57 Million Holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Key Points

• Cetera Investment Advisers increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 9.2%, acquiring an additional 20,804 shares, bringing its total holdings to 247,382 shares valued at approximately $129.6 million.
• UnitedHealth Group announced a quarterly dividend increase to $2.21, resulting in an annualized dividend of $8.84 with a dividend yield of 3.15%.
• Recent analyst reports show mixed sentiment for UnitedHealth Group, with price targets ranging from $353.00 to $418.00, and a consensus rating of 'Moderate Buy'.

Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 9.2% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 247,382 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after acquiring an additional 20,804 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers' holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $129,566,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Citizens National Bank Trust Department boosted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1.0% in the first quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department now owns 17,886 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $9,368,000 after acquiring an additional 170 shares during the period. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH boosted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 0.3% in the first quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH now owns 530,103 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $277,641,000 after acquiring an additional 1,465 shares during the period. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC bought a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter worth $515,000. Full Sail Capital LLC lifted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 2.1% in the fourth quarter. Full Sail Capital LLC now owns 1,612 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $815,000 after purchasing an additional 33 shares during the period. Finally, Soros Fund Management LLC bought a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter worth $39,413,000. Institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have issued reports on UNH. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $351.00 to $306.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday. Hsbc Global Res lowered UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "moderate sell" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 21st. HSBC reiterated a "reduce" rating and set a $270.00 price objective (down from $490.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Wednesday, May 21st. Raymond James Financial lowered UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "market perform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 14th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $563.00 to $374.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, May 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $392.29.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Up 0.5%

Shares of UnitedHealth Group stock traded up $1.52 during trading on Monday, hitting $282.58. 6,184,088 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 11,320,663. The firm has a market capitalization of $256.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.39 and a beta of 0.45. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 1-year low of $248.88 and a 1-year high of $630.73. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $301.58 and its 200 day moving average price is $424.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.85.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 16th were issued a dividend of $2.21 per share. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.13%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 16th. This is a boost from UnitedHealth Group's previous quarterly dividend of $2.10. UnitedHealth Group's payout ratio is 37.02%.

Insider Buying and Selling at UnitedHealth Group

In other UnitedHealth Group news, CEO Stephen J. Hemsley acquired 86,700 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 16th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $288.57 per share, for a total transaction of $25,019,019.00. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer directly owned 679,493 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $196,081,295.01. This trade represents a 14.63% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Patrick Hugh Conway sold 589 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $305.00, for a total value of $179,645.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 10,398 shares in the company, valued at $3,171,390. This trade represents a 5.36% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have purchased a total of 109,408 shares of company stock worth $31,607,768 over the last three months. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

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.