UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Trading 1.5% Higher - Time to Buy?

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) shares were up 1.5% during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $405.70 and last traded at $405.73. Approximately 2,429,374 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 47% from the average daily volume of 4,603,781 shares. The stock had previously closed at $399.92.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently commented on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $655.00 to $525.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $694.00 to $660.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 28th. Argus lowered UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, April 21st. Hsbc Global Res lowered shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $652.00 to $525.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, UnitedHealth Group presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $596.86.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

The company's fifty day moving average is $495.85 and its 200 day moving average is $528.18. The stock has a market cap of $369.12 billion, a PE ratio of 26.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74.

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 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 for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $111.56 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $6.91 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 10th were paid a dividend of $2.10 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 10th. This represents a $8.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.07%. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is presently 35.18%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. NewSquare Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Marshall & Sterling Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. Hurley Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. AlphaMark Advisors LLC bought a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter worth $30,000. 87.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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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