Whitener Capital Management Inc. Grows Holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Whitener Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 21.2% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 7,132 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after purchasing an additional 1,248 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group accounts for approximately 1.1% of Whitener Capital Management Inc.'s portfolio, making the stock its 23rd largest position. Whitener Capital Management Inc.'s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $3,735,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Prudent Man Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 1.6% in the first quarter. Prudent Man Advisors LLC now owns 2,727 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $1,428,000 after acquiring an additional 43 shares in the last quarter. LRI Investments LLC boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 0.6% in the first quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 18,748 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $9,819,000 after acquiring an additional 105 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC boosted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 8.2% during the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 117,358 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $61,466,000 after buying an additional 8,877 shares in the last quarter. Greatmark Investment Partners Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 15.7% during the 1st quarter. Greatmark Investment Partners Inc. now owns 735 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $385,000 after buying an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Finally, TFR Capital LLC. boosted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 22.3% during the 1st quarter. TFR Capital LLC. now owns 6,650 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $3,483,000 after buying an additional 1,214 shares in the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UNH traded up $4.30 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $303.81. 9,789,082 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 7,703,876. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.85. The stock has a market capitalization of $275.60 billion, a PE ratio of 12.72, a P/E/G ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 0.45. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a one year low of $248.88 and a one year high of $630.73. The company's 50 day moving average is $314.52 and its 200 day moving average is $440.43.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 17th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.20 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $7.29 by ($0.09). The firm had revenue of $109.58 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $111.56 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 5.39% and a return on equity of 26.29%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $6.91 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 24th. Investors of record on Monday, June 16th were given a $2.21 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 16th. This is an increase from UnitedHealth Group's previous quarterly dividend of $2.10. This represents a $8.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.91%. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 37.02%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Timothy Patrick Flynn purchased 1,533 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 14th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $320.80 per share, for a total transaction of $491,786.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 6,033 shares in the company, valued at $1,935,386.40. This represents a 34.07% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CFO John F. Rex purchased 17,175 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 16th. The stock was bought at an average price of $291.12 per share, with a total value of $4,999,986.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 203,796 shares of the company's stock, valued at $59,329,091.52. The trade was a 9.20% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders purchased 109,408 shares of company stock valued at $31,607,768 over the last 90 days. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently commented on the stock. TD Securities restated a "hold" rating and set a $308.00 target price (down previously from $520.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Monday, May 19th. Baird R W cut shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 11th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $563.00 to $374.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, May 14th. Hsbc Global Res cut shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "moderate sell" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 21st. Finally, TD Cowen lowered UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $308.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Monday, May 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $415.00.

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.