Q2 2024 Earnings Forecast for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Issued By Zacks Research

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) - Research analysts at Zacks Research lowered their Q2 2024 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of UnitedHealth Group in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, April 30th. Zacks Research analyst D. Chatterjee now forecasts that the healthcare conglomerate will post earnings per share of $6.77 for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $6.91. The consensus estimate for UnitedHealth Group's current full-year earnings is $27.61 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for UnitedHealth Group's Q3 2024 earnings at $7.21 EPS, Q4 2024 earnings at $6.62 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $27.51 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $31.08 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $8.39 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $35.11 EPS.

Other research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Oppenheimer reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $610.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Wednesday, January 17th. Truist Financial reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $600.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Wednesday, April 17th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $545.00 to $562.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, April 19th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $600.00 to $525.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 8th. Finally, Piper Sandler raised their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $566.00 to $571.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 17th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $570.05.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of UNH traded up $8.86 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $492.97. The stock had a trading volume of 3,203,041 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,435,456. The company has a market cap of $453.57 billion, a PE ratio of 30.13, a PEG ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 0.55. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $483.02 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $513.07. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. UnitedHealth Group has a fifty-two week low of $436.38 and a fifty-two week 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 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 firm had revenue of $99.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $99.23 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $6.26 EPS. UnitedHealth Group's quarterly revenue was up 8.6% on a year-over-year basis.

Institutional Trading of UnitedHealth Group

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of UNH. Robbins Farley acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. Richelieu Gestion SA bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. CGC Financial Services LLC grew its stake in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. True Wealth Design LLC bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, NewSquare Capital LLC grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 340.0% during the 3rd quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 66 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 51 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.86% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,236 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,364 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,527,306.72. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, CAO Thomas E. Roos sold 858 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction on 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 owns 32,289 shares in the company, valued at $16,977,233.31. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,236 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction on Friday, March 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $483.48, for a total value of $597,581.28. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 9,364 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,527,306.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.35% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 19th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 11th were paid a $1.88 dividend. This represents a $7.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.53%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 8th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is presently 45.97%.

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.