UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Shares Sold by MUFG Securities EMEA plc

Key Points

• MUFG Securities EMEA plc reduced its stake in UnitedHealth Group by **47.8%**, now holding approximately **10,999 shares** valued at $5.76 million.
• After recent earnings, UnitedHealth reported an **earnings per share (EPS)** of **$4.08**, falling short of analyst expectations of $4.45, while its revenue was **$111.62 billion**, slightly below the forecast.
• UnitedHealth announced an increase in its quarterly dividend to **$2.21 per share**, reflecting an annualized payout of **$8.84** and a **3.5% dividend yield**.

MUFG Securities EMEA plc decreased its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 47.8% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 10,999 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after selling 10,054 shares during the quarter. MUFG Securities EMEA plc's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $5,761,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Financial Management Professionals Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 0.8% in the first quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 2,224 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $1,165,000 after purchasing an additional 17 shares during the period. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates boosted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 28.6% in the first quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 90 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 20 shares during the period. Kolinsky Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1.0% in the fourth quarter. Kolinsky Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,135 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $1,080,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares during the period. Retirement Planning Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 5.1% in the first quarter. Retirement Planning Group LLC now owns 430 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $225,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares during the period. Finally, Net Worth Advisory Group boosted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 0.6% in the first quarter. Net Worth Advisory Group now owns 3,642 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $1,907,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

UNH traded up $6.07 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $250.74. 10,146,688 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 18,404,546. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $291.78 and its 200 day simple moving average is $406.04. The firm has a market capitalization of $227.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 1-year low of $234.60 and a 1-year high of $630.73.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $4.08 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.45 by ($0.37). The company had revenue of $111.62 billion for 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 for the quarter was up 12.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $6.80 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

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

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Patrick Hugh Conway sold 589 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $305.00, for a total transaction of $179,645.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 10,398 shares in the company, valued at $3,171,390. This trade represents a 5.36% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Stephen J. Hemsley bought 86,700 shares of the company'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 completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 679,493 shares in the company, valued at approximately $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. Over the last three months, insiders acquired 109,408 shares of company stock worth $31,607,768. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UNH has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. HSBC restated a "reduce" rating and set a $270.00 target price (down previously from $490.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Wednesday, May 21st. Erste Group Bank lowered UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Wall Street Zen lowered UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, May 24th. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $355.00 to $286.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Finally, Bank of America reduced their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $350.00 to $300.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, July 29th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $366.52.

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.