UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Stock Price Down 0.2% - Here's Why

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report)'s stock price was down 0.2% on Monday . The stock traded as low as $376.84 and last traded at $380.03. Approximately 3,925,907 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 17% from the average daily volume of 4,714,388 shares. The stock had previously closed at $380.64.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have weighed in on UNH shares. StockNews.com raised shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. HSBC reaffirmed a "hold" rating and set a $490.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Oppenheimer lowered their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $640.00 to $600.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 21st. Truist Financial lowered their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $660.00 to $580.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 21st. Finally, Argus downgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, April 21st. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $596.86.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Down 0.6%

The stock's fifty day moving average price is $488.01 and its 200 day moving average price is $522.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.83 and a quick ratio of 0.91. The stock has a market capitalization of $343.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.41, a PEG ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.56.

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

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 10th were issued a $2.10 dividend. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.22%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 10th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 35.18%.

Institutional Trading of UnitedHealth Group

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of UNH. Financial Management Professionals Inc. raised its position 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 purchasing an additional 17 shares during the last quarter. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP raised its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP now owns 902 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $456,000 after purchasing an additional 19 shares during the last quarter. MCF Advisors LLC raised its position in UnitedHealth Group by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 2,578 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $1,304,000 after buying an additional 20 shares during the last quarter. Axiom Financial Strategies LLC raised its position in UnitedHealth Group by 3.6% during the 4th quarter. Axiom Financial Strategies LLC now owns 575 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $291,000 after buying an additional 20 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Richwood Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in UnitedHealth Group by 0.4% during 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 last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate reporting. This story was reviewed by MarketBeat's editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.