UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) - Leerink Partnrs decreased their Q2 2024 earnings per share estimates for UnitedHealth Group in a report released on Tuesday, April 16th. Leerink Partnrs analyst W. Mayo now forecasts that the healthcare conglomerate will post earnings per share of $6.84 for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $6.95. The consensus estimate for UnitedHealth Group's current full-year earnings is $27.75 per share. Leerink Partnrs also issued estimates for UnitedHealth Group's Q3 2024 earnings at $7.22 EPS, Q1 2025 earnings at $7.67 EPS, Q2 2025 earnings at $7.74 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $8.17 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $7.62 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $46.14 EPS.
A number of other brokerages have also recently commented on UNH. StockNews.com cut UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday. Barclays raised their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $534.00 to $560.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an "overweight" rating and issued a $591.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Wednesday, April 10th. Oppenheimer reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $610.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Wednesday, January 17th. Finally, Piper Sandler lifted their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $566.00 to $571.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $569.68.
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UnitedHealth Group Trading Up 3.0 %
UNH stock traded up $14.17 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $493.16. The company's stock had a trading volume of 8,879,564 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,525,576. The company has a market cap of $454.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 0.54. The business's 50 day moving average price is $488.97 and its 200 day moving average price is $515.22. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. UnitedHealth Group has a 12 month low of $436.38 and a 12 month high of $554.70.
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $6.63 by $0.28. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.50% and a net margin of 4.05%. The company had revenue of $99.80 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $99.23 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $6.26 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was up 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year.
Hedge Funds Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group
Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Ascension Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 3rd quarter worth $216,000. Bellecapital International Ltd. raised its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. Bellecapital International Ltd. now owns 13,823 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $7,277,000 after purchasing an additional 193 shares during the period. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. raised its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 5.8% in the 3rd quarter. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. now owns 34,297 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $17,292,000 after purchasing an additional 1,884 shares during the period. Rise Advisors LLC raised its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 326.0% during the fourth quarter. Rise Advisors LLC now owns 213 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $112,000 after acquiring an additional 163 shares during the period. Finally, Gradient Investments LLC raised its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 6.3% during the fourth quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 84,278 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $44,370,000 after acquiring an additional 5,023 shares during the period. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Insider Transactions at UnitedHealth Group
In related news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,236 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $483.48, for a total value of $597,581.28. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 9,364 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,527,306.72. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In related news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,236 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $483.48, for a total value of $597,581.28. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 9,364 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,527,306.72. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CAO Thomas E. Roos sold 858 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $525.79, for a total value of $451,127.82. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 32,289 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,977,233.31. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.35% of the company's stock.
UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 19th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 11th were given a $1.88 dividend. This represents a $7.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.52%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 8th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 45.97%.
About UnitedHealth Group
(
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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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