Q3 EPS Forecast for UnitedHealth Group Reduced by Analyst

Key Points

• Leerink Partnrs has significantly lowered its Q3 2025 EPS estimate for UnitedHealth Group from $3.60 to $2.49, indicating a bearish outlook for the company's performance.
• In its latest quarterly earnings report, UnitedHealth Group missed analysts' consensus EPS estimates, reporting $4.08 instead of the expected $4.45.
• UnitedHealth Group recently declared an increased quarterly dividend of $2.21, up from the previous $2.10, reflecting a commitment to returning value to shareholders despite the earnings outlook.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) - Leerink Partnrs lowered their Q3 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for UnitedHealth Group in a research report issued on Tuesday, July 29th. Leerink Partnrs analyst W. Mayo now anticipates that the healthcare conglomerate will post earnings of $2.49 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $3.60. The consensus estimate for UnitedHealth Group's current full-year earnings is $29.54 per share. Leerink Partnrs also issued estimates for UnitedHealth Group's Q4 2025 earnings at $2.43 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $16.22 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $5.09 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $4.35 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $3.95 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $3.86 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $17.25 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $22.34 EPS, FY2028 earnings at $25.90 EPS and FY2029 earnings at $28.45 EPS.

Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $351.00 to $306.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Wall Street Zen lowered UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, May 24th. Argus lowered UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, April 21st. Barclays restated an "overweight" rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Thursday, July 17th. Finally, HSBC restated a "reduce" rating and set a $270.00 price target (down previously from $490.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Wednesday, May 21st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $373.52.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Down 4.9%

Shares of NYSE UNH traded down $12.16 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $237.40. The company had a trading volume of 39,874,177 shares, compared to its average volume of 15,268,949. UnitedHealth Group has a one year low of $234.60 and a one year high of $630.73. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $296.86 and its 200-day moving average price is $416.24. The stock has a market cap of $215.36 billion, a PE ratio of 10.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.56 and a beta of 0.43.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $4.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.45 by ($0.37). UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 23.32% and a net margin of 5.04%. The firm had revenue of $111.62 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $111.75 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $6.80 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 12.9% on a year-over-year basis.

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 paid a $2.21 dividend. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.7%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 16th. This is an increase from UnitedHealth Group's previous quarterly dividend of $2.10. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 38.30%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other UnitedHealth Group news, Director Kristen Gil bought 3,700 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 15th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $271.17 per share, for a total transaction of $1,003,329.00. Following the purchase, the director owned 3,818 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,035,327.06. This trade represents a 3,135.59% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Stephen J. Hemsley bought 86,700 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, May 16th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $288.57 per share, for a total transaction of $25,019,019.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer owned 679,493 shares in the company, valued at approximately $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 bought a total of 109,408 shares of company stock worth $31,607,768 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of UnitedHealth Group

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Financial Management Professionals Inc. raised its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 2,224 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $1,165,000 after purchasing an additional 17 shares during the period. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates raised its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 28.6% in the 1st quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 90 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 20 shares during the period. Kolinsky Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Kolinsky Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,135 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $1,080,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares during the period. Retirement Planning Group LLC raised its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 5.1% in the 1st quarter. Retirement Planning Group LLC now owns 430 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $225,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares during the period. Finally, Net Worth Advisory Group raised its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Net Worth Advisory Group now owns 3,642 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $1,907,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares during the period. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.