UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Shares Up 1.9% - Should You Buy?

Key Points

• UnitedHealth Group's shares increased by 1.9% to $347.89, with trading volume down 4% compared to the average.
• Analysts have varied ratings on UnitedHealth, with 16 giving it a "Buy" rating and price targets ranging from $325 to $440, reflecting differing market expectations.
• The firm announced a quarterly dividend of $2.21 per share, representing an annual yield of 2.5%, and has a payout ratio of 38.30%.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) was up 1.9% on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $352.70 and last traded at $347.89. Approximately 12,462,926 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 4% from the average daily volume of 13,007,431 shares. The stock had previously closed at $341.30.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on UNH shares. Oppenheimer dropped their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $400.00 to $325.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $337.00 to $352.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, September 4th. Baird R W downgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 31st. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an "overweight" rating and set a $440.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Tuesday, August 26th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $310.00 to $365.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 9th. Sixteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $358.95.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Up 1.9%

The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. The company has a market cap of $315.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.07, a PEG ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 0.44. The firm's 50 day moving average is $296.49 and its two-hundred day moving average is $362.50.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 29th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $4.08 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.45 by ($0.37). UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 23.32% and a net margin of 5.04%.The business had revenue of $111.62 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $111.75 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $6.80 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter 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, equities research analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 EPS for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 23rd. Investors of record on Monday, September 15th will be given a dividend of $2.21 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 15th. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.5%. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is presently 38.30%.

Institutional Trading of UnitedHealth Group

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Financial Management Professionals Inc. increased its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 2,224 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $1,165,000 after acquiring an additional 17 shares in the last quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates boosted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 28.6% during the 1st quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 90 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 20 shares in the last quarter. Retirement Planning Group LLC boosted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 5.1% during the 1st quarter. Retirement Planning Group LLC now owns 430 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $225,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares in the last quarter. Net Worth Advisory Group boosted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. Net Worth Advisory Group now owns 3,642 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $1,907,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bensler LLC boosted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Bensler LLC now owns 6,945 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $3,637,000 after purchasing an additional 22 shares in the last quarter. 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.

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