UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Stock Position Lowered by Exencial Wealth Advisors LLC

Key Points

• Exencial Wealth Advisors LLC reduced its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 6.9%, now holding 62,002 shares worth approximately $32.47 million, accounting for 1.2% of its investment portfolio.
• UnitedHealth Group's stock experienced a recent 4.3% increase, reaching $251.25, despite missing earnings estimates with an EPS of $4.08 compared to the expected $4.45.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $2.21, increasing from the previous $2.10, with an annualized dividend yield of 3.5%.

Exencial Wealth Advisors LLC lessened its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 6.9% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 62,002 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after selling 4,563 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group comprises approximately 1.2% of Exencial Wealth Advisors LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 15th biggest position. Exencial Wealth Advisors LLC's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $32,473,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Citizens National Bank Trust Department increased 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 buying an additional 170 shares in the last quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH increased 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 buying an additional 1,465 shares in the last quarter. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter valued at $515,000. Full Sail Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 2.1% during the fourth quarter. Full Sail Capital LLC now owns 1,612 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $815,000 after acquiring an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Soros Fund Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter valued at $39,413,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at UnitedHealth Group

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

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of UNH traded up $6.07 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $250.74. The stock had a trading volume of 10,146,688 shares, compared to its average volume of 18,404,546. The company has a market cap of $227.46 billion, a PE ratio of 10.86, a PEG ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 0.43. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $291.78 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $406.82. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $234.60 and a fifty-two week high of $630.73.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $4.08 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.45 by ($0.37). The firm had revenue of $111.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $111.75 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 23.32% and a net margin of 5.04%. UnitedHealth Group's revenue was up 12.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $6.80 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 24th. Investors of record on Monday, June 16th were given a dividend of $2.21 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 16th. This represents a $8.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.5%. This is an increase from UnitedHealth Group's previous quarterly dividend of $2.10. UnitedHealth Group's payout ratio is presently 38.30%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have issued reports on UNH shares. Argus lowered UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, April 21st. Oppenheimer decreased their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $400.00 to $325.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. UBS Group reissued a "buy" rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Thursday, July 17th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $306.00 to $267.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 4th. Finally, Baird R W lowered UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 31st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $366.52.

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.