Buck Wealth Strategies LLC increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 18.0% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 18,584 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after buying an additional 2,837 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group comprises 1.8% of Buck Wealth Strategies LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 21st largest position. Buck Wealth Strategies LLC's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $9,733,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.
Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 176.2% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 44,249 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $22,384,000 after purchasing an additional 28,231 shares during the last quarter. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA purchased a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter valued at about $27,233,000. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 137.1% in the fourth quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 4,019 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $2,033,000 after purchasing an additional 2,324 shares during the last quarter. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG lifted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 3.9% during the 4th quarter. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG now owns 263,655 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $133,373,000 after buying an additional 9,872 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Blackston Financial Advisory Group LLC lifted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 12.8% during the 4th quarter. Blackston Financial Advisory Group LLC now owns 1,086 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $549,000 after buying an additional 123 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.86% of the company's stock.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
A number of research analysts have commented on the company. Argus downgraded UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, April 21st. Wolfe Research reduced their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $501.00 to $390.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, May 20th. Oppenheimer cut their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $600.00 to $400.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, May 14th. HSBC reissued a "reduce" rating and issued a $270.00 price target (down previously from $490.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Wednesday, May 21st. Finally, Erste Group Bank downgraded UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and sixteen have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, UnitedHealth Group has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $427.09.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on UNH
UnitedHealth Group Stock Down 1.7%
Shares of UNH stock opened at $302.04 on Friday. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 1 year low of $248.88 and a 1 year high of $630.73. The stock has a market cap of $273.99 billion, a PE ratio of 12.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.44. The business's fifty day moving average is $359.15 and its 200-day moving average is $462.77. 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 (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 17th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.29 by ($0.09). The firm had revenue of $109.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $111.56 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 5.39% and a return on equity of 26.29%. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $6.91 earnings per share. Equities analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend
The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 16th will be paid a dividend of $2.21 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 16th. This is a positive change from UnitedHealth Group's previous quarterly dividend of $2.10. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.93%. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 37.02%.
Insider Transactions at UnitedHealth Group
In other UnitedHealth Group news, Director John H. Noseworthy bought 300 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 14th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $312.16 per share, with a total value of $93,648.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,063 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,892,626.08. This represents a 5.21% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Stephen J. Hemsley bought 86,700 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 16th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $288.57 per share, with a total value of $25,019,019.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 679,493 shares of the company's stock, valued at $196,081,295.01. This trade represents a 14.63% 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 in the last three months. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.
UnitedHealth Group Profile
(
Free Report)
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.
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