WealthShield Partners LLC Increases Stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Key Points

• WealthShield Partners LLC increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 14.7% during the 1st quarter, bringing its total holdings to 8,932 shares valued at $4.68 million.
• UnitedHealth Group's quarterly dividend was raised to $2.21 per share, an increase from the previous $2.10, indicating a strong emphasis on returning value to shareholders.
• The stock price of UnitedHealth Group has shown fluctuations, with a 12-month low of $234.60 and a high of $630.73, reflecting market volatility.

WealthShield Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 14.7% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 8,932 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after buying an additional 1,144 shares during the quarter. WealthShield Partners LLC's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $4,678,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Citizens National Bank Trust Department grew its holdings 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 purchasing an additional 170 shares in the last quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH grew its holdings 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 purchasing an additional 1,465 shares in the last quarter. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC purchased a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter valued at $515,000. Full Sail Capital LLC grew its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 2.1% in the fourth quarter. Full Sail Capital LLC now owns 1,612 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $815,000 after purchasing an additional 33 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Soros Fund Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter valued at $39,413,000. 87.86% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

NYSE UNH traded down $1.37 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $244.42. The stock had a trading volume of 11,331,473 shares, compared to its average volume of 18,403,832. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a twelve month low of $234.60 and a twelve month 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. The firm's 50 day moving average is $292.78 and its 200 day moving average is $408.71. The stock has a market capitalization of $221.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.59, a PEG ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.43.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last posted 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 company 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 firm earned $6.80 EPS. The firm's revenue was up 12.9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

The firm 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. This represents a $8.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 16th. This is a positive change from UnitedHealth Group's previous quarterly dividend of $2.10. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is 38.30%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNH has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Argus downgraded UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, April 21st. Baird R W downgraded UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 31st. UBS Group restated a "buy" rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Thursday, July 17th. KeyCorp lowered their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $400.00 to $350.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Finally, Barclays reiterated an "overweight" rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Thursday, July 17th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $366.52.

Insider Activity

In other UnitedHealth Group news, CFO John F. Rex acquired 17,175 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 16th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $291.12 per share, with a total value of $4,999,986.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 203,796 shares of the company's stock, valued at $59,329,091.52. This trade represents a 9.20% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Timothy Patrick Flynn acquired 1,533 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $320.80 per share, with a total value of $491,786.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 6,033 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,935,386.40. The trade was a 34.07% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders acquired 109,408 shares of company stock worth $31,607,768. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

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.