FY2024 EPS Estimates for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Increased by Analyst

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) - Leerink Partnrs lifted their FY2024 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for UnitedHealth Group in a research report issued on Tuesday, April 16th. Leerink Partnrs analyst W. Mayo now expects that the healthcare conglomerate will post earnings per share of $27.63 for the year, up from their prior forecast of $27.54. The consensus estimate for UnitedHealth Group's current full-year earnings is $27.74 per share. Leerink Partnrs also issued estimates for UnitedHealth Group's Q4 2024 earnings at $6.59 EPS.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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 analysts' expectations of $99.23 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $6.26 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 8.6% on a year-over-year basis.

Several other research firms have also recently weighed in on UNH. TD Cowen dropped their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $607.00 to $546.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 10th. Bank of America reissued a "buy" rating and set a $675.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Thursday, March 7th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an "overweight" rating and set a $591.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Wednesday, April 10th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $596.00 to $555.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $600.00 to $525.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 8th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $570.05.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

NYSE:UNH traded up $8.11 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $501.29. 6,616,632 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,553,088. The stock has a market capitalization of $462.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 0.54. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $488.63 and its 200 day simple moving average is $515.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 0.85. UnitedHealth Group has a fifty-two week low of $436.38 and a fifty-two week high of $554.70.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 19th. Investors of record on Monday, March 11th were issued a dividend of $1.88 per share. This represents a $7.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.50%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 8th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 45.97%.

Insider Activity at UnitedHealth Group

In related news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,236 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, March 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $483.48, for a total transaction of $597,581.28. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 9,364 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,527,306.72. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other UnitedHealth Group news, CAO Thomas E. Roos sold 858 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $525.79, for a total transaction of $451,127.82. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 32,289 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $16,977,233.31. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,236 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $483.48, for a total value of $597,581.28. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,364 shares in the company, valued at $4,527,306.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.35% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Robbins Farley acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. Richelieu Gestion SA bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. CGC Financial Services LLC increased its position in UnitedHealth Group by 1,000.0% in the 4th quarter. CGC Financial Services LLC now owns 55 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, NewSquare Capital LLC increased its position in UnitedHealth Group by 340.0% in the 3rd quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 66 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.