UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Shares Bought by Mader & Shannon Wealth Management Inc.

Mader & Shannon Wealth Management Inc. increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 12.5% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 14,710 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after purchasing an additional 1,640 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group comprises about 4.4% of Mader & Shannon Wealth Management Inc.'s portfolio, making the stock its 7th biggest holding. Mader & Shannon Wealth Management Inc.'s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $7,704,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Blue Bell Private Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 26.6% in the 1st quarter. Blue Bell Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 385 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $202,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares during the last quarter. Coastwise Capital Group LLC purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the first quarter valued at about $428,000. Heritage Investors Management Corp lifted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 9.0% during the first quarter. Heritage Investors Management Corp now owns 74,443 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $38,989,000 after buying an additional 6,130 shares in the last quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 15.2% during the first quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 13,821 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $7,239,000 after buying an additional 1,820 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Signet Investment Advisory Group Inc. lifted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 10.0% during the first quarter. Signet Investment Advisory Group Inc. now owns 7,283 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $3,814,000 after buying an additional 660 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.86% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UNH traded down $12.12 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $280.39. 12,956,721 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 11,249,010. The firm has a market cap of $254.36 billion, a PE ratio of 11.74, a PEG ratio of 1.39 and a beta of 0.45. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $301.70 and its 200-day simple moving average is $428.82. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12 month low of $248.88 and a 12 month high of $630.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 0.85.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 24th. Investors of record on Monday, June 16th were issued a $2.21 dividend. This represents a $8.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.15%. This is a boost from UnitedHealth Group's previous quarterly dividend of $2.10. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 16th. UnitedHealth Group's payout ratio is currently 37.02%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UNH has been the topic of a number of research reports. Wall Street Zen downgraded UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, May 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $521.00 to $362.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, May 14th. UBS Group restated a "buy" rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Thursday, July 17th. Bank of America downgraded UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $560.00 to $350.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 14th. Finally, TD Cowen downgraded UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $308.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Monday, May 19th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $394.43.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Patrick Hugh Conway sold 589 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 10th. The stock was 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 of the company's stock, valued at $3,171,390. The trade was a 5.36% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Kristen Gil purchased 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, with a total value of $1,003,329.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, 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 purchased a total of 109,408 shares of company stock valued at $31,607,768 over the last three months. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

About UnitedHealth Group

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.