UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Shares Up 1.3%

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) traded up 1.3% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $491.36 and last traded at $490.54. 666,837 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 85% from the average session volume of 4,398,384 shares. The stock had previously closed at $484.11.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have weighed in on the company. Erste Group Bank restated a "hold" rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Wednesday, March 13th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $591.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Wednesday, April 10th. Truist Financial reiterated 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 boosted their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $545.00 to $562.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, April 19th. Finally, Stephens reissued an "overweight" rating and issued a $605.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Thursday, February 8th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $570.05.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Up 1.8 %

The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $483.02 and its 200 day simple moving average is $513.07. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The stock has a market cap of $453.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.13, a PEG ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 0.55.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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. The business had revenue of $99.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $99.23 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 4.05% and a return on equity of 26.50%. The business's revenue was up 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $6.26 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.61 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

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

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,236 shares of the firm's 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 directly 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 other UnitedHealth Group news, CAO Thomas E. Roos sold 858 shares of the business'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 completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly 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 SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,236 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction that occurred 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 disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.35% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Bray Capital Advisors boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 0.5% during the third quarter. Bray Capital Advisors now owns 9,616 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $4,848,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. Innova Wealth Partners increased its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 2.9% in the 3rd quarter. Innova Wealth Partners now owns 737 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $372,000 after buying an additional 21 shares during the period. TFC Financial Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 7.8% in the 3rd quarter. TFC Financial Management Inc. now owns 417 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $210,000 after purchasing an additional 30 shares in the last quarter. Rosenbaum Jay D. boosted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 44.6% during the 3rd quarter. Rosenbaum Jay D. now owns 823 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $415,000 after buying an additional 254 shares during the period. Finally, Baxter Bros Inc. lifted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 3.9% in the 3rd quarter. Baxter Bros Inc. now owns 1,417 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $714,000 after purchasing an additional 53 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.86% of the company's stock.

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.