Zacks Research Issues Positive Outlook for UNH Earnings

Key Points

• Zacks Research has increased its Q2 2027 earnings estimate for UnitedHealth Group to $4.57 per share, up from $4.53, alongside a consensus estimate of $29.54 for the full year.
• UnitedHealth Group's recent quarterly earnings report showed a miss on EPS expectation, with earnings of $4.08 per share compared to the consensus of $4.45.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $2.21, with an annualized dividend yield of 2.9% and a payout ratio of 38.30%.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) - Investment analysts at Zacks Research upped their Q2 2027 earnings estimates for UnitedHealth Group in a report released on Wednesday, August 20th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the healthcare conglomerate will post earnings of $4.57 per share for the quarter, up from their prior forecast of $4.53. The consensus estimate for UnitedHealth Group's current full-year earnings is $29.54 per share.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $4.08 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.45 by ($0.37). The firm had revenue of $111.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations 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 period in the previous year, the firm posted $6.80 earnings per share. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 16.000- EPS.

UNH has been the topic of several other reports. KeyCorp cut their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $400.00 to $350.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Oppenheimer decreased their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $400.00 to $325.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Piper Sandler cut their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $353.00 to $317.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Erste Group Bank lowered UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. Finally, Raymond James Financial lowered UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "market perform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 14th. Fifteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, UnitedHealth Group currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $365.38.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Down 0.7%

NYSE UNH traded down $2.16 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $305.26. 8,873,813 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 23,438,662. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 0.85. The firm has a market capitalization of $276.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 0.43. The business's 50 day moving average is $288.39 and its 200-day moving average is $387.54. UnitedHealth Group has a 12-month low of $234.60 and a 12-month high of $630.73.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNH. Marshall & Sterling Wealth Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Bayforest Capital Ltd increased its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 685.7% in the 1st quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd now owns 55 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd lifted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 416.7% during the first quarter. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd now owns 62 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. IAG Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the first quarter worth $42,000. Finally, LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 2nd quarter valued at about $25,000. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity at UnitedHealth Group

In related news, CEO Patrick Hugh Conway sold 589 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $305.00, for a total value 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 document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 23rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 15th will be paid 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 2.9%. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 38.30%.

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.