Ruane Cunniff & Goldfarb L.P. Decreases Stock Holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated $UNH

Key Points

• Ruane Cunniff & Goldfarb L.P. has reduced its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 1.9%, now owning approximately $430.6 million worth of the stock, making it the firm's 5th largest position.
• UnitedHealth Group's latest earnings report revealed a missed EPS estimate of $4.08 compared to the projected $4.45, with a revenue of $111.62 billion, slightly below expectations.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $2.21 per share, yielding 2.8%, highlighting a dividend payout ratio of 38.30%.

Ruane Cunniff & Goldfarb L.P. lessened its stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 1.9% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 822,168 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after selling 15,828 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group accounts for about 7.8% of Ruane Cunniff & Goldfarb L.P.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 5th biggest holding. Ruane Cunniff & Goldfarb L.P. owned about 0.09% of UnitedHealth Group worth $430,610,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bayforest Capital Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 685.7% in the first quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd now owns 55 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 48 shares during the period. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 416.7% during the first quarter. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd now owns 62 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. Copia Wealth Management acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter worth $42,000. IAG Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the first quarter worth $42,000. Finally, Investment Management Corp VA ADV acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter worth $44,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.86% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of UNH traded up $4.72 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $315.10. The company had a trading volume of 14,093,579 shares, compared to its average volume of 17,228,082. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12 month low of $234.60 and a 12 month high of $630.73. The firm has a market cap of $285.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.65, a PEG ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 0.44. The business has a fifty day moving average of $288.78 and a 200-day moving average of $372.56. 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 analysts' consensus estimates of $4.45 by ($0.37). UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 23.32% and a net margin of 5.04%.The business had revenue of $111.62 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $111.75 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $6.80 earnings per share. UnitedHealth Group's revenue was up 12.9% compared to the same quarter last year. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 16.000- EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 23rd. Investors of record on Monday, September 15th will be given a dividend of $2.21 per share. This represents a $8.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 15th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 38.30%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Patrick Hugh Conway sold 589 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $305.00, for a total transaction of $179,645.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 10,398 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,171,390. This trade represents a 5.36% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UNH has been the subject of several recent research reports. Hsbc Global Res cut shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "moderate sell" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 21st. Robert W. Baird reiterated an "underperform" rating and issued a $198.00 price target (down previously from $312.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Thursday, July 31st. Piper Sandler cut their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $353.00 to $317.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an "overweight" rating and issued a $440.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Tuesday, August 26th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $306.00 to $267.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, August 4th. Sixteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $354.86.

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.