FY2026 Earnings Estimate for UNH Issued By Zacks Research

Key Points

• Zacks Research raised its FY2026 EPS estimate for UnitedHealth Group to $19.52 from $18.26 and maintained a “Strong Buy” rating; its FY2027 and FY2028 estimates are $22.16 and $25.69, respectively.
• UnitedHealth’s latest quarter exceeded expectations, with EPS of $6.38 versus the $4.94 consensus and revenue of $112.03 billion. Management reaffirmed FY2026 guidance of $19.50–$20.00 EPS.
• Analyst sentiment remains broadly positive, with a “Moderate Buy” consensus and average price target of $455.92, although the company faces risks from medical costs, surprise-billing disputes, regulation, and Medicare Advantage changes.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) - Analysts at Zacks Research raised their FY2026 earnings per share estimates for UnitedHealth Group in a report released on Thursday, July 30th. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the healthcare conglomerate will post earnings per share of $19.52 for the year, up from their previous estimate of $18.26. Zacks Research has a "Strong-Buy" rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for UnitedHealth Group's current full-year earnings is $19.69 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for UnitedHealth Group's Q2 2027 earnings at $6.18 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $22.16 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $25.69 EPS.

Several other analysts also recently commented on the stock. BMO Capital Markets set a $512.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Tuesday, July 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $466.00 to $516.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 21st. KeyCorp upped their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $400.00 to $475.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an "overweight" rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Thursday, June 11th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $463.00 to $478.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, July 17th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have issued a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $455.92.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 0.1%

NYSE UNH opened at $414.82 on Monday. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $411.39 and its 200-day moving average price is $348.31. The company has a market capitalization of $376.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 0.62. UnitedHealth Group has a 52 week low of $234.60 and a 52 week high of $461.62. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.38 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $4.94 by $1.44. The business had revenue of $112.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $110.81 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 3.14% and a return on equity of 16.53%. The firm's revenue was up .4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $4.08 earnings per share. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 19.500-20.000 EPS.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 23rd. Investors of record on Monday, June 15th were given a $2.32 dividend. This is an increase from UnitedHealth Group's previous quarterly dividend of $2.21. This represents a $9.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 15th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 59.72%.

Institutional Trading of UnitedHealth Group

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Sarver Vrooman Wealth Advisors bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Anfield Capital Management LLC increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 220.0% in the fourth quarter. Anfield Capital Management LLC now owns 80 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares during the period. Joseph Group Capital Management purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter valued at $27,000. Nalls Sherbakoff Group LLC bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Finally, Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Key UnitedHealth Group News

Here are the key news stories impacting UnitedHealth Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts at Zacks Research raised EPS forecasts for several future periods, including Q3 2026, Q1 2027, Q3 2027, Q4 2027, and Q1 2028. Zacks maintained a “Strong Buy” rating, reinforcing expectations for an earnings recovery.
• Positive Sentiment: Erste Group Bank increased its FY2026 EPS estimate to $19.85 from $18.33 and its FY2027 estimate to $22.44 from $20.87, maintaining a “Buy” rating. MarketBeat UnitedHealth analyst estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Recent coverage highlights UNH’s second-quarter earnings beat, lower medical-cost ratio, improved margins, and raised 2026 guidance as evidence that the company’s turnaround is gaining traction. Its diversified Optum platform and growing use of artificial intelligence are also viewed as longer-term strengths. UnitedHealth turnaround signal
• Positive Sentiment: A separate valuation update lifted the estimated fair value from $424.23 to $475.23, reflecting improved Medicare Advantage and Optum Health assumptions. The average brokerage recommendation remains equivalent to “Buy,” although the usefulness of broadly positive analyst ratings is questioned. UnitedHealth fair value update
• Neutral Sentiment: Commentary says the recent stock advance reflects a Medicare Advantage repricing strategy that management outlined months earlier, suggesting the market is reassessing earnings power rather than responding to a new operational announcement. UnitedHealth Medicare Advantage repricing analysis
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks reduced its Q4 2026 EPS estimate to $2.25 from $2.47 and trimmed its Q2 2028 forecast to $5.84 from $5.92. These isolated cuts may be contributing to caution even as the firm remains bullish overall.
• Negative Sentiment: UnitedHealth faces scrutiny over surprise-billing dispute costs, while broader risks include commercial-market trends, Medicaid exposure, and regulation. Medicare Advantage insurers are also redesigning 2027 plans, potentially affecting enrollment, benefits, and member retention. Cigna and UnitedHealth cost coverage

UnitedHealth Group Company Profile

UnitedHealth Group Inc is a diversified health care company headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, that operates two primary business platforms: UnitedHealthcare and Optum. Founded in 1977, the company provides a broad range of health benefits and health care services to individuals, employers, governmental entities and other organizations. Its operations span commercial employer-sponsored plans, individual and Medicare and Medicaid programs, and services for customers and health systems in the United States and selected international markets.

UnitedHealthcare is the company's benefits business, administering health plans and networks, managing provider relationships, and offering coverage products for employers, individuals, and government-sponsored programs.

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