UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Stock Rating Upgraded by Zacks Research

Key Points

• UnitedHealth Group has been upgraded by Zacks Research from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating, reflecting a shift in analyst sentiment toward the stock.
• Recent research reports indicate a range of price targets for UnitedHealth, with Oppenheimer lowering it to $325.00, while Sanford C. Bernstein raised it to $379.00, showcasing significant variation in market expectations.
• Despite missing quarterly earnings expectations, UnitedHealth Group experienced a year-over-year revenue increase of 12.9%, indicating continued growth in its business operations.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Research from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report issued on Monday,Zacks.com reports.

UNH has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Oppenheimer cut their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $400.00 to $325.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Robert W. Baird reaffirmed an "underperform" rating and set a $198.00 price objective (down previously from $312.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Thursday, July 31st. Sanford C. Bernstein raised their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $337.00 to $379.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, September 5th. Bank of America raised their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $290.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Monday, August 18th. Finally, UBS Group reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Thursday, July 17th. Sixteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and four have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $365.00.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Up 1.4%

Shares of UNH opened at $363.95 on Monday. UnitedHealth Group has a 1 year low of $234.60 and a 1 year high of $630.73. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $311.44 and a 200-day simple moving average of $352.42. The stock has a market cap of $329.62 billion, a PE ratio of 15.77, a PEG ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.47.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $4.08 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $4.45 by ($0.37). The business had revenue of $111.62 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $111.75 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 23.32% and a net margin of 5.04%.The firm's revenue was up 12.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $6.80 earnings per share. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 16.000- EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group will post 29.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Citizens National Bank Trust Department grew its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1.0% in the 1st quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department now owns 17,886 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $9,368,000 after acquiring an additional 170 shares in the last quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH grew its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH now owns 530,103 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $277,641,000 after acquiring an additional 1,465 shares in the last quarter. Caitlin John LLC grew its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 14.8% in the 1st quarter. Caitlin John LLC now owns 862 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $451,000 after acquiring an additional 111 shares in the last quarter. Triumph Capital Management bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,324,000. Finally, Wealth Effects LLC grew its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 14.4% during the second quarter. Wealth Effects LLC now owns 4,688 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $1,463,000 after purchasing an additional 591 shares during the period. 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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