UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Stock Position Lessened by Avidity Partners Management LP

Avidity Partners Management LP cut its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 31.4% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 60,000 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after selling 27,400 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group accounts for approximately 3.0% of Avidity Partners Management LP's investment portfolio, making the stock its 9th biggest holding. Avidity Partners Management LP's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $30,352,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNH. Brown Advisory Inc. increased its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1.9% during the fourth quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. now owns 707,545 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $357,919,000 after acquiring an additional 13,157 shares in the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 4.6% during the fourth quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 416,151 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $210,515,000 after buying an additional 18,290 shares during the period. Banque Transatlantique SA purchased a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter worth $1,264,000. Banque de Luxembourg S.A. purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $7,716,000. Finally, Bayesian Capital Management LP purchased a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter worth about $2,887,000. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

UNH opened at $398.72 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $495.85 and its 200 day moving average price is $528.45. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a twelve month low of $393.11 and a twelve month high of $630.73. The firm has a market capitalization of $362.92 billion, a PE ratio of 25.72, a PEG ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.61.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last issued 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 company had revenue of $109.58 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $111.56 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $6.91 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 10th were given a $2.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 10th. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.11%. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 35.18%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $640.00 to $510.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 29th. Erste Group Bank downgraded UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday. Truist Financial lowered their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $660.00 to $580.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 21st. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $642.00 to $560.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 21st. Finally, Hsbc Global Res lowered shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price 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.

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