UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Downgraded to Hold Rating by Hsbc Global Res

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) was downgraded by research analysts at Hsbc Global Res from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday,Zacks.com reports.

Other analysts also recently issued reports about the company. HSBC restated a "hold" rating and issued a $490.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $664.00 to $563.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Barclays decreased their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $642.00 to $560.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 21st. Erste Group Bank upgraded UnitedHealth Group to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have given a buy rating and three have assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $603.05.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

UnitedHealth Group stock traded down $6.05 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $418.20. 9,255,934 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,482,211. The company has a market cap of $380.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. UnitedHealth Group has a twelve month low of $412.02 and a twelve month high of $630.73. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $503.28 and a two-hundred day moving average of $534.18.

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

Institutional Investors Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Financial Management Professionals Inc. lifted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 0.8% in the first quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 2,224 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $1,165,000 after purchasing an additional 17 shares during the last quarter. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP grew its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP now owns 902 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $456,000 after acquiring an additional 19 shares during the period. MCF Advisors LLC raised its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 2,578 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $1,304,000 after acquiring an additional 20 shares during the period. Axiom Financial Strategies LLC lifted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 3.6% during the 4th quarter. Axiom Financial Strategies LLC now owns 575 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $291,000 after buying an additional 20 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Richwood Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. Richwood Investment Advisors LLC now owns 5,247 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $2,654,000 after buying an additional 20 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other 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.