UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Cut to "Hold" at StockNews.com

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) was downgraded by equities research analysts at StockNews.com from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report released on Thursday.

A number of other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on UNH. HSBC upgraded UnitedHealth Group from a "reduce" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $460.00 target price on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 4th. TD Cowen decreased their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $607.00 to $546.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 10th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an "overweight" rating and issued a $591.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Wednesday, April 10th. Barclays raised their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $534.00 to $560.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $618.00 to $584.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 5th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $569.68.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

Shares of UNH stock traded up $14.17 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $493.16. 8,879,564 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,525,576. UnitedHealth Group has a twelve month low of $436.38 and a twelve month high of $554.70. The firm 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 company's 50-day simple moving average is $488.97 and its 200-day simple moving average is $515.22. 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 (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $99.23 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $6.26 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group will post 27.75 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,236 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $483.48, for a total transaction of $597,581.28. Following the completion of the transaction, 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 legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other UnitedHealth Group news, 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 transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 32,289 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $16,977,233.31. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,236 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of the sale, the executive vice president now 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 owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Robbins Farley bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Richelieu Gestion SA bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. CGC Financial Services LLC grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 1,000.0% during the 4th quarter. CGC Financial Services LLC now owns 55 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth 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. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.

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