Freedom Together Foundation Decreases Stock Holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Freedom Together Foundation lessened its holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 79.9% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 14,355 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after selling 57,000 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group comprises 0.8% of Freedom Together Foundation's investment portfolio, making the stock its 3rd biggest holding. Freedom Together Foundation's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $7,262,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1.6% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 19,956,219 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $10,068,869,000 after purchasing an additional 319,515 shares during the last quarter. Capital International Investors boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 6.2% in the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 15,616,007 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $7,899,905,000 after purchasing an additional 906,365 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter valued at $6,375,744,000. Northern Trust Corp boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 12.5% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 9,503,671 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $4,807,527,000 after purchasing an additional 1,058,488 shares during the period. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 10.7% in the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 8,923,770 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $4,514,178,000 after purchasing an additional 861,854 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.86% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Down 17.8%

Shares of NYSE UNH traded down $67.52 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $311.23. 58,485,476 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,956,967. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $486.06 and a 200 day moving average price of $520.74. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12-month low of $309.33 and a 12-month high of $630.73. The firm has a market cap of $282.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.08, a P/E/G ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 0.83.

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

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 18th. Investors of record on Monday, March 10th were issued a $2.10 dividend. This represents a $8.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.70%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 10th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 35.18%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have commented on UNH shares. Truist Financial cut their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $660.00 to $580.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 21st. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $664.00 to $563.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. StockNews.com raised shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $652.00 to $525.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and set a $700.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Friday, January 17th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $596.86.

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.