Woodline Partners LP Acquires Shares of 52,657 UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Woodline Partners LP acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 52,657 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock, valued at approximately $26,637,000.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Capital & Planning LLC increased its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 19.2% during the 4th quarter. Capital & Planning LLC now owns 491 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $248,000 after acquiring an additional 79 shares during the period. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB raised its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 2.5% in the fourth quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 50,557 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $25,575,000 after buying an additional 1,233 shares in the last quarter. Gemmer Asset Management LLC grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 5.7% during the fourth quarter. Gemmer Asset Management LLC now owns 742 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $375,000 after buying an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. Amplius Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 11.8% in the 4th quarter. Amplius Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,093 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $553,000 after acquiring an additional 115 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wealthquest Corp grew its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 7.8% during the fourth quarter. Wealthquest Corp now owns 470 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $238,000 after purchasing an additional 34 shares in the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at UnitedHealth Group

In related news, CFO John F. Rex purchased 17,175 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 16th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $291.12 per share, for a total transaction of $4,999,986.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief financial officer now directly owns 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 acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Stephen J. Hemsley acquired 86,700 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 16th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $288.57 per share, for a total transaction of $25,019,019.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 679,493 shares in the company, valued at $196,081,295.01. The trade was a 14.63% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders have acquired 109,408 shares of company stock valued at $31,607,768 in the last three months. 0.33% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

Shares of UNH stock opened at $321.76 on Wednesday. The business's 50 day moving average price is $464.33 and its 200-day moving average price is $510.17. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $248.88 and a fifty-two week high of $630.73. The firm has a market cap of $291.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.76, a P/E/G ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 0.83.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 17th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.20 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.29 by ($0.09). UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.69% and a net margin of 3.60%. The company had revenue of $109.58 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $111.56 billion. During the same quarter last 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 Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 10th were given a dividend of $2.10 per share. This represents a $8.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.61%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 10th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 35.18%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. HSBC reissued a "hold" rating and issued a $490.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. KeyCorp reduced their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $575.00 to $450.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, May 14th. Wolfe Research cut their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $501.00 to $390.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. Mizuho decreased their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $515.00 to $350.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $510.00 to $356.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, May 14th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $451.43.

About UnitedHealth Group

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.

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