Q2 EPS Estimate for UnitedHealth Group Lifted by Analyst

Key Points

• Zacks Research raised its Q2 2026 EPS estimate for UnitedHealth to $4.94 (from $4.74), and the company recently reported a Q1 beat and set FY2026 guidance around $18.25 EPS.
• Multiple analysts have lifted price targets (examples: Jefferies to $373, Bernstein to $411, Truist to $395) leaving a consensus target of about $378.88, while the stock trades near $363.83 with a market cap of roughly $330 billion.
• Management is cutting administrative friction (removing prior authorizations for ~30% of services) and boosting buybacks—moves seen as constructive, though analysts warn Q2 claims trends could raise near‑term medical‑cost risk.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) - Equities researchers at Zacks Research increased their Q2 2026 EPS estimates for shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report issued on Tuesday, May 5th. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the healthcare conglomerate will post earnings of $4.94 per share for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $4.74. The consensus estimate for UnitedHealth Group's current full-year earnings is $18.29 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for UnitedHealth Group's Q3 2026 earnings at $3.61 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $18.26 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $6.77 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $5.27 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $4.27 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $19.76 EPS, Q1 2028 earnings at $6.38 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $23.46 EPS.

A number of other research analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $278.00 to $287.00 and gave the company an "underperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $340.00 to $373.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, April 20th. Sanford C. Bernstein lifted their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $405.00 to $411.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 7th. Truist Financial reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $395.00 price objective (up from $370.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Wednesday, April 22nd. Finally, Evercore raised UnitedHealth Group to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have given a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $378.88.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Down 1.9%

NYSE:UNH opened at $363.83 on Wednesday. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $300.93 and its 200-day simple moving average is $316.81. UnitedHealth Group has a fifty-two week low of $234.60 and a fifty-two week high of $404.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.79. The stock has a market capitalization of $330.43 billion, a PE ratio of 27.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 0.64.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 21st. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.76 by $0.47. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 14.65% and a net margin of 2.68%.The firm had revenue of $111.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $109.84 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $7.20 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 18.250- EPS.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Frisch Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 3.5% during the 1st quarter. Frisch Financial Group Inc. now owns 4,440 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $1,201,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares during the last quarter. Independent Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the 1st quarter valued at about $1,727,000. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 2.7% in the first quarter. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,333 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $361,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. Aware Super Pty Ltd as trustee of Aware Super bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the 1st quarter valued at $16,867,000. Finally, BCGM Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 11.0% during the first quarter. BCGM Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,549 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $2,043,000 after buying an additional 747 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.86% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other UnitedHealth Group news, CEO Patrick Hugh Conway sold 800 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $355.00, for a total transaction of $284,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 17,805 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,320,775. This represents a 4.30% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 9th were issued a $2.21 dividend. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 9th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is presently 66.77%.

More UnitedHealth Group News

Here are the key news stories impacting UnitedHealth Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: UnitedHealthcare will eliminate prior-authorization requirements for roughly 30% of services, aiming to cut administrative cost/complexity and speed care for members — a move investors view as operationally constructive. UnitedHealthcare removes prior approval requirements for 30% of healthcare services
• Positive Sentiment: UnitedHealth reported a Q1 earnings beat and raised 2026 guidance, which investors credited for improved profitability and helped lift sentiment. Why UnitedHealth Group Stock Came Roaring Back In April
• Positive Sentiment: Goldman Sachs added UNH to its U.S. Conviction List and maintained a $435 price target, signaling confidence in the company’s recovery in Medicare underwriting. Goldman Sachs Names UnitedHealth to Conviction List
• Positive Sentiment: Management is boosting share buybacks, which markets interpret as a signal that leadership views the stock as undervalued and supports EPS. According to These Metrics, UnitedHealth Stock Looks Undervalued
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts warn first-quarter results mask a lag in claims; Q2 will be a clearer test of medical-cost trends, so investors should monitor claims development closely. Major health insurers show signs of recovery – but a key test looms
• Negative Sentiment: Removing prior authorizations could also lift utilization and near-term medical costs; investors should weigh potential savings from lower admin burden against higher claims risk. UnitedHealth to drop preapproval requirements for some services
• Negative Sentiment: A shareholder proposal seeking an independent board chair and recent executive moves (e.g., a UNH leader joining Highmark) add governance and talent-transition angles investors may watch. How Investors Are Reacting To UnitedHealth Group Earnings Beat, Guidance Hike and Governance Challenge

UnitedHealth Group Company Profile

UnitedHealth Group Inc is a diversified health care company headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, that operates two primary business platforms: UnitedHealthcare and Optum. Founded in 1977, the company provides a broad range of health benefits and health care services to individuals, employers, governmental entities and other organizations. Its operations span commercial employer-sponsored plans, individual and Medicare and Medicaid programs, and services for customers and health systems in the United States and selected international markets.

UnitedHealthcare is the company's benefits business, administering health plans and networks, managing provider relationships, and offering coverage products for employers, individuals, and government-sponsored programs.

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