Woodline Partners LP Purchases 25,094 Shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated $UNH

Key Points

• Woodline Partners LP increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 47.7% during the first quarter, acquiring an additional 25,094 shares valued at approximately $40.72 million.
• UnitedHealth Group reported $4.08 earnings per share for the most recent quarter, falling short of analysts' expectations of $4.45, alongside revenues of $111.62 billion.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $2.21 per share, with an annualized dividend yield of 2.5% set to be paid on September 23rd.

Woodline Partners LP grew its stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 47.7% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 77,751 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after buying an additional 25,094 shares during the period. Woodline Partners LP's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $40,722,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNH. Bayforest Capital Ltd grew 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 during the period. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd increased its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 416.7% in the 1st quarter. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd now owns 62 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Copia Wealth Management bought a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth about $42,000. IAG Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the first quarter worth about $42,000. Finally, Investment Management Corp VA ADV acquired a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $44,000. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

Shares of UnitedHealth Group stock traded up $7.11 on Thursday, hitting $353.89. 18,916,413 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 19,187,298. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $291.11 and its 200 day simple moving average is $370.48. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. The company has a market cap of $320.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.33, a P/E/G ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 0.45. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12-month low of $234.60 and a 12-month high of $630.73.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last issued 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). The business had revenue of $111.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $111.75 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 23.32% and a net margin of 5.04%.UnitedHealth Group's revenue for the quarter was up 12.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $6.80 EPS. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 16.000- EPS. Analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 23rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 15th will be issued a $2.21 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 15th. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.5%. UnitedHealth Group's payout ratio is 38.30%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on UNH. Bank of America lifted their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $290.00 to $325.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Monday, August 18th. 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. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $306.00 to $267.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 4th. Robert W. Baird restated an "underperform" rating and issued a $198.00 target price (down previously from $312.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Thursday, July 31st. Finally, TD Cowen lowered shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $308.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Monday, May 19th. Sixteen investment 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. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $355.77.

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.