UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Stock Position Raised by Waycross Partners LLC

Key Points

• Waycross Partners LLC has increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 21.6%, acquiring an additional 6,001 shares, bringing its total ownership to 33,795 shares valued at approximately $17.7 million.
• The healthcare conglomerate reported earnings per share of $4.08 for its latest quarter, missing analyst expectations, but its revenue increased by 12.9% year-over-year to $111.62 billion.
• UnitedHealth Group has increased its quarterly dividend from $2.10 to $2.21 per share, which equates to an annual dividend yield of 3.6%.

Waycross Partners LLC grew its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 21.6% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 33,795 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after purchasing an additional 6,001 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group makes up about 2.0% of Waycross Partners LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 24th largest position. Waycross Partners LLC's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $17,700,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Marshall & Sterling Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter worth $26,000. Bayforest Capital Ltd raised its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 685.7% in the 1st quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd now owns 55 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. IAG Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the first quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Finally, Kapitalo Investimentos Ltda bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $41,000. 87.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Kristen Gil acquired 3,700 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 15th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $271.17 per share, for a total transaction of $1,003,329.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 3,818 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,035,327.06. This trade represents a 3,135.59% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Timothy Patrick Flynn bought 1,533 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 14th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $320.80 per share, with a total value of $491,786.40. Following the transaction, the director owned 6,033 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,935,386.40. This trade represents a 34.07% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders bought a total of 109,408 shares of company stock valued at $31,607,768 over the last 90 days. 0.28% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

Shares of UNH traded down $1.37 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $244.42. The stock had a trading volume of 11,331,473 shares, compared to its average volume of 18,403,832. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $292.78 and its 200-day moving average price is $408.71. The company has a market capitalization of $221.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.59, a P/E/G ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.43. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 52 week low of $234.60 and a 52 week high of $630.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.85.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last released its 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 during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $111.75 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $6.80 earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 12.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 16th were given a $2.21 dividend. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.6%. This is an increase from UnitedHealth Group's previous quarterly dividend of $2.10. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 16th. UnitedHealth Group's payout ratio is 38.30%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. Bank of America decreased their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $350.00 to $300.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, July 29th. Raymond James Financial downgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "market perform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 14th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, May 24th. Robert W. Baird reiterated an "underperform" rating and set a $198.00 price target (down from $312.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Thursday, July 31st. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada lowered their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $355.00 to $286.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and fifteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $366.52.

UnitedHealth Group 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.