Wright Investors Service Inc. Has $4.43 Million Holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Wright Investors Service Inc. grew its holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 17.3% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 8,449 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after buying an additional 1,248 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group accounts for approximately 1.5% of Wright Investors Service Inc.'s holdings, making the stock its 20th biggest holding. Wright Investors Service Inc.'s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $4,425,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Waycross Partners LLC grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 2.4% in the fourth quarter. Waycross Partners LLC now owns 27,794 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $14,060,000 after acquiring an additional 658 shares during the period. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter worth $515,000. Full Sail Capital LLC boosted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 2.1% in the fourth quarter. Full Sail Capital LLC now owns 1,612 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $815,000 after purchasing an additional 33 shares in the last quarter. Soros Fund Management LLC acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter worth $39,413,000. Finally, Silvercrest Asset Management Group LLC boosted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 47.8% in the fourth quarter. Silvercrest Asset Management Group LLC now owns 38,796 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $19,625,000 after purchasing an additional 12,550 shares in the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Up 0.8%

Shares of UnitedHealth Group stock traded up $2.36 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $304.27. The company's stock had a trading volume of 19,026,389 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,836,618. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.83 and a quick ratio of 0.91. The company has a market capitalization of $276.01 billion, a PE ratio of 19.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.56. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12 month low of $248.88 and a 12 month high of $630.73. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $430.87 and a 200 day moving average of $492.75.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 17th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.20 earnings per share (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 return on equity of 26.69% and a net margin of 3.60%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $6.91 earnings per share. Analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Kristen Gil acquired 3,700 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 15th. The stock was bought at an average price of $271.17 per share, with a total value of $1,003,329.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,818 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,035,327.06. The trade was a 3,135.59% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Timothy Patrick Flynn bought 1,533 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 14th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $320.80 per share, with a total value of $491,786.40. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 6,033 shares in the company, valued at $1,935,386.40. The trade was a 34.07% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders bought 109,408 shares of company stock worth $31,607,768. 0.33% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have commented on UNH. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $563.00 to $374.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, May 14th. Bank of America lowered UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and cut their price target for the company from $560.00 to $350.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 14th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $525.00 to $355.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Hsbc Global Res lowered UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "moderate sell" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 21st. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, May 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $439.17.

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.