Q2 EPS Estimate for UnitedHealth Group Increased by Analyst

Key Points

• Analysts at Leerink Partners raised their Q2 2026 EPS estimate for UnitedHealth Group from $4.35 to $4.42, while the full-year consensus estimate stands at $29.54 per share.
• UnitedHealth Group's stock, currently down 1.7%, has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" among analysts, with a price target averaging $358.95.
• The company recently announced a quarterly dividend of $2.21 per share, yielding 2.6%, with a dividend payout ratio of 38.30%.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) - Equities research analysts at Leerink Partnrs increased their Q2 2026 EPS estimates for UnitedHealth Group in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, September 24th. Leerink Partnrs analyst W. Mayo now forecasts that the healthcare conglomerate will post earnings per share of $4.42 for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $4.35. The consensus estimate for UnitedHealth Group's current full-year earnings is $29.54 per share. Leerink Partnrs also issued estimates for UnitedHealth Group's Q4 2026 earnings at $3.90 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $17.34 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $23.62 EPS, FY2028 earnings at $27.77 EPS and FY2029 earnings at $31.09 EPS.

A number of other equities analysts have also commented on UNH. Bank of America raised their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $290.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Monday, August 18th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an "overweight" rating and issued a $440.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Tuesday, August 26th. Oppenheimer lowered their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $400.00 to $325.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Piper Sandler reduced their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $353.00 to $317.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Finally, UBS Group reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Thursday, July 17th. Sixteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $358.95.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Down 1.7%

UNH stock opened at $345.84 on Friday. The business's fifty day moving average price is $299.96 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $361.40. The stock has a market capitalization of $313.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.98, a PEG ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 0.45. UnitedHealth Group has a fifty-two week low of $234.60 and a fifty-two week high of $630.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.85.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $4.08 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $4.45 by ($0.37). The firm had revenue of $111.62 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $111.75 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 23.32% and a net margin of 5.04%.UnitedHealth Group's revenue for the quarter was up 12.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $6.80 EPS. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 16.000- EPS.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 23rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 15th were given a $2.21 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 15th. This represents a $8.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.6%. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 38.30%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Brighton Jones LLC increased its position in UnitedHealth Group by 176.2% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 44,249 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $22,384,000 after acquiring an additional 28,231 shares during the period. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC increased its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 137.1% in the fourth quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 4,019 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $2,033,000 after purchasing an additional 2,324 shares during the period. Wood Tarver Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth about $73,000. Copia Wealth Management acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter valued at about $42,000. Finally, Mascagni Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter worth approximately $66,000. Institutional investors 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.

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