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

Key Points

• UnitedHealth Group's share price increased by 1.2% to $306.96, with a notable decline in trading volume of 52% compared to its average daily volume.
• Analysts have issued mixed ratings, with 15 analysts rating it as Buy and a consensus price target of $365.38, reflecting optimism despite recent price target reductions.
• The company reported $4.08 EPS for the last quarter, falling short of the expected $4.45, while showing a 12.9% year-over-year revenue growth to $111.62 billion.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report)'s share price was up 1.2% on Friday . The stock traded as high as $310.68 and last traded at $306.96. Approximately 6,146,331 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 52% from the average daily volume of 12,813,095 shares. The stock had previously closed at $303.35.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have weighed in on UNH shares. Mizuho dropped their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $515.00 to $350.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $355.00 to $286.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Barclays restated an "overweight" rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Thursday, July 17th. Raymond James Financial cut UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "market perform" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 14th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $306.00 to $267.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, August 4th. Fifteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $365.38.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $278.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.31, a P/E/G ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 0.43. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $288.51 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $391.21. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $4.08 earnings per share (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 firm had revenue of $111.62 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $111.75 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $6.80 earnings per share. UnitedHealth Group'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, research analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 23rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 15th will be issued a dividend of $2.21 per share. This represents a $8.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.9%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 15th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is 38.30%.

Insider Activity at UnitedHealth Group

In other news, CEO Patrick Hugh Conway sold 589 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $305.00, for a total transaction of $179,645.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 10,398 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,171,390. This represents a 5.36% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of UnitedHealth Group

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. TT Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the second quarter worth approximately $489,000. Stance Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the second quarter valued at approximately $1,297,000. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC grew its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 6.8% during the second quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC now owns 7,221 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $2,253,000 after purchasing an additional 457 shares during the last quarter. North Dallas Bank & Trust Co. bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the second quarter valued at approximately $1,329,000. Finally, Forefront Wealth Partners LLC boosted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 6.3% in the second quarter. Forefront Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,114 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $348,000 after acquiring an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.86% of the company's stock.

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.

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