UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Shares Up 1.2% - What's Next?

Key Points

• UnitedHealth Group's stock experienced a 1.2% increase, closing at $351.87, while trading volume dropped by 31% compared to the average daily volume.
• Wall Street analysts have mixed opinions on UNH, with target prices ranging from $198 to $395 and a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy."
• The company reported Earnings Per Share (EPS) of $4.08 for the last quarter, missing estimates, but achieved a year-over-year revenue growth of 12.9% with $111.62 billion in revenue.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) was up 1.2% during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $354.50 and last traded at $351.87. Approximately 8,967,415 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 31% from the average daily volume of 12,985,551 shares. The stock had previously closed at $347.69.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently commented on UNH shares. Oppenheimer lowered their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $400.00 to $325.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $325.00 to $395.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, September 12th. Truist Financial raised their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $310.00 to $365.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 9th. Robert W. Baird reaffirmed an "underperform" rating and set a $198.00 target price (down previously from $312.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Thursday, July 31st. Finally, Piper Sandler reduced their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $353.00 to $317.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Sixteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, UnitedHealth Group has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $358.95.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

The company's 50 day simple moving average is $297.61 and its 200 day simple moving average is $362.39. The company has a market capitalization of $318.68 billion, a PE ratio of 15.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 0.44. 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 posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $4.08 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.45 by ($0.37). UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 5.04% and a return on equity of 23.32%. The business had revenue of $111.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $111.75 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $6.80 earnings per share. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 12.9% compared to the same quarter last year. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 16.000- EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 23rd. Investors of record on Monday, September 15th were issued a $2.21 dividend. This represents a $8.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 15th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is 38.30%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of UNH. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 176.2% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 44,249 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $22,384,000 after buying an additional 28,231 shares during the period. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of 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 in the last quarter. Polar Asset Management Partners Inc. acquired a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth $1,973,000. Armis Advisers LLC bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter worth $282,000. Finally, Park Square Financial Group LLC bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter worth $402,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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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