Orbimed Advisors LLC Lowers Holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Orbimed Advisors LLC decreased its holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 26.9% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 130,900 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after selling 48,100 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group comprises approximately 1.5% of Orbimed Advisors LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd biggest holding. Orbimed Advisors LLC's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $66,217,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNH. Meridiem Capital Partners LP acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter valued at about $22,779,000. Minot DeBlois Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter valued at about $51,000. Morse Asset Management Inc increased its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 2.1% in the fourth quarter. Morse Asset Management Inc now owns 17,964 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $9,087,000 after purchasing an additional 371 shares during the last quarter. NDVR Inc. grew its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 5.7% in the 4th quarter. NDVR Inc. now owns 681 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $344,000 after buying an additional 37 shares during the period. Finally, LRI Investments LLC raised its position in UnitedHealth Group by 0.5% in the fourth quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 18,643 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $9,431,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

UNH stock opened at $378.42 on Tuesday. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $486.06 and a 200 day moving average price of $520.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.83 and a quick ratio of 0.91. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 1-year low of $337.70 and a 1-year high of $630.73. The company has a market capitalization of $343.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.41, a PEG ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.56.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 17th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.20 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.29 by ($0.09). The business had revenue of $109.58 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $111.56 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.69% and a net margin of 3.60%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $6.91 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 10th were given a dividend of $2.10 per share. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.22%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 10th. UnitedHealth Group's payout ratio is currently 35.18%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have weighed in on UNH. Barclays cut their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $642.00 to $560.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $652.00 to $525.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Oppenheimer cut their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $640.00 to $600.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 21st. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an "overweight" rating and issued a $700.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $596.86.

UnitedHealth Group 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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