UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Shares Sold by Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC

Key Points

• Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC reduced its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 3.4%, owning 117,616 shares valued at $61.6 million.
• UnitedHealth Group's recent quarterly earnings report showed an EPS of $4.08, missing estimates by $0.37, with revenue reaching $111.62 billion.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $2.21 per share, representing an annualized yield of 2.9%, scheduled for payment on September 23rd.

Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC decreased its holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 3.4% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 117,616 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after selling 4,122 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group accounts for about 0.5% of Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC's holdings, making the stock its 29th largest holding. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $61,602,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Citizens National Bank Trust Department raised its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1.0% during 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 acquiring an additional 170 shares during the last quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH raised its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 0.3% during 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 acquiring an additional 1,465 shares during the last quarter. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $515,000. Full Sail Capital LLC raised its holdings 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 position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $39,413,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.86% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently commented on UNH shares. Erste Group Bank cut UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Truist Financial cut their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $360.00 to $345.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. Hsbc Global Res cut UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "moderate sell" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 21st. Barclays reaffirmed an "overweight" rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Thursday, July 17th. Finally, Baird R W cut UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a report on Thursday, July 31st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $366.52.

Insider Activity

In other news, 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 sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 10,398 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,171,390. This trade represents a 5.36% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Up 12.0%

UNH opened at $304.02 on Friday. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 52 week low of $234.60 and a 52 week high of $630.73. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $288.91 and a 200-day simple moving average of $396.85. The firm has a market cap of $275.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.17, a P/E/G ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 0.43. 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 (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly 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). UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 23.32% and a net margin of 5.04%. The firm had revenue of $111.62 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $111.75 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $6.80 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was up 12.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 23rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 15th will be paid a $2.21 dividend. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.9%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 15th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 38.30%.

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.

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