UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Trading Up 5% on Strong Earnings

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report)'s share price was up 5% on Tuesday following a stronger than expected earnings report. The company traded as high as $479.75 and last traded at $467.80. Approximately 5,622,850 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 30% from the average daily volume of 4,314,540 shares. The stock had previously closed at $445.63.

The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $6.54 by $0.37. The company had revenue of $99.80 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $99.23 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.39% and a net margin of 6.02%. UnitedHealth Group's revenue for the quarter was up 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $6.26 EPS.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 19th. Investors of record on Monday, March 11th were given a $1.88 dividend. This represents a $7.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.60%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 8th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 31.54%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UNH has been the topic of several research reports. Barclays assumed coverage on UnitedHealth Group in a report on Wednesday, March 6th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $551.00 price objective on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an "outperform" rating and set a $596.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Thursday, February 29th. Stephens reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and set a $605.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Thursday, February 8th. TD Cowen cut their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $607.00 to $546.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 10th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald restated an "overweight" rating and set a $591.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Wednesday, April 10th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $573.80.

Insider Activity

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

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large 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 $25,000. Richelieu Gestion SA purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. CGC Financial Services LLC raised its holdings 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 worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. True Wealth Design LLC purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. Finally, NewSquare Capital LLC raised its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 340.0% in the third quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 66 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 51 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Up 5.3 %

The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $490.31 and its 200-day simple moving average is $515.63. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62. The company has a market capitalization of $432.51 billion, a PE ratio of 19.68, a P/E/G ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 0.54.

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.