Zacks Research Issues Positive Outlook for UNH Earnings

Key Points

• Zacks Research has increased its Q4 2025 earnings per share estimate for UnitedHealth Group to $2.16, up from $2.14, while maintaining a "Hold" rating on the stock.
• The consensus for UnitedHealth's current full-year earnings is $29.54 per share and several analysts have varying price targets, with a consensus target price of $372.68.
• UnitedHealth Group recently announced a quarterly dividend of $2.21, yielding 2.4%, with a payout ratio of 38.30%.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) - Research analysts at Zacks Research upped their Q4 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of UnitedHealth Group in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, October 7th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the healthcare conglomerate will post earnings per share of $2.16 for the quarter, up from their prior forecast of $2.14. Zacks Research has a "Hold" rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for UnitedHealth Group's current full-year earnings is $29.54 per share.

A number of other research analysts also recently commented on the company. Robert W. Baird reaffirmed an "underperform" rating and set a $198.00 target price (down previously from $312.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Thursday, July 31st. Truist Financial raised their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $310.00 to $365.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, September 9th. UBS Group reissued a "buy" rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Thursday, July 17th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $325.00 to $395.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, September 12th. Finally, Oppenheimer cut their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $400.00 to $325.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Sixteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $372.68.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Up 1.7%

NYSE:UNH opened at $369.88 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. The business's 50 day moving average is $313.51 and its two-hundred day moving average is $352.54. UnitedHealth Group has a 52 week low of $234.60 and a 52 week high of $630.73. The company has a market cap of $334.99 billion, a PE ratio of 16.03, a P/E/G ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 0.47.

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 analysts' consensus estimates of $4.45 by ($0.37). UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 23.32% and a net margin of 5.04%.The firm had revenue of $111.62 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $111.75 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $6.80 EPS. The company's quarterly revenue was up 12.9% on a year-over-year basis. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 16.000- EPS.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 23rd. Investors of record on Monday, September 15th were issued a $2.21 dividend. This represents a $8.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 15th. UnitedHealth Group's payout ratio is presently 38.30%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter worth $25,000. Bayforest Capital Ltd boosted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 685.7% in the first quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd now owns 55 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 48 shares during the period. Sagard Holdings Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter worth $29,000. Islay Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter worth $31,000. Finally, Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd grew its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 416.7% in the first quarter. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd now owns 62 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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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