Asahi Life Asset Management CO. LTD. Raises Position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Asahi Life Asset Management CO. LTD. increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 8.6% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 11,328 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after purchasing an additional 897 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group makes up 3.8% of Asahi Life Asset Management CO. LTD.'s holdings, making the stock its 4th biggest holding. Asahi Life Asset Management CO. LTD.'s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $5,933,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of UNH. Marshall & Sterling Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Hurley Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd bought a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Kapitalo Investimentos Ltda acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter worth $41,000. Finally, Copia Wealth Management bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $42,000. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Down 1.2%

Shares of NYSE:UNH traded down $3.73 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $300.37. 10,659,781 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 11,129,027. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $314.52 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $439.94. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12-month low of $248.88 and a 12-month high of $630.73. The stock has a market cap of $272.48 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.58, a P/E/G ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 0.45.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 17th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.20 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.29 by ($0.09). The firm had revenue of $109.58 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations 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 in the prior year, the company earned $6.91 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 24th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 16th were given a $2.21 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 16th. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.94%. This is a boost from UnitedHealth Group's previous quarterly dividend of $2.10. UnitedHealth Group's payout ratio is currently 37.02%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have weighed in on UNH shares. Piper Sandler decreased their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $552.00 to $353.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, June 3rd. Hsbc Global Res downgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "moderate sell" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 21st. Argus downgraded UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, April 21st. Raymond James Financial lowered UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "market perform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 14th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $525.00 to $355.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and sixteen have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $415.00.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Kristen Gil bought 3,700 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the director directly owned 3,818 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,035,327.06. This represents a 3,135.59% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Patrick Hugh Conway sold 589 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 10th. The stock was 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 of the company's stock, valued at $3,171,390. The trade was a 5.36% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders bought 109,408 shares of company stock worth $31,607,768. 0.28% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.