UnitedHealth Group Competitors

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) and UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) are both large-cap medical companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, institutional ownership, risk, valuation, earnings and analyst recommendations.

Dividends

Johnson & Johnson pays an annual dividend of $4.04 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.5%. UnitedHealth Group pays an annual dividend of $5.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.4%. Johnson & Johnson pays out 46.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. UnitedHealth Group pays out 33.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Johnson & Johnson has raised its dividend for 59 consecutive years and UnitedHealth Group has raised its dividend for 10 consecutive years. Johnson & Johnson is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Johnson & Johnson and UnitedHealth Group's revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Johnson & Johnson has higher earnings, but lower revenue than UnitedHealth Group. Johnson & Johnson is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than UnitedHealth Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Johnson & Johnson and UnitedHealth Group's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

67.3% of Johnson & Johnson shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 86.0% of UnitedHealth Group shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.3% of Johnson & Johnson shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.8% of UnitedHealth Group shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Volatility & Risk

Johnson & Johnson has a beta of 0.7, suggesting that its share price is 30% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, UnitedHealth Group has a beta of 0.74, suggesting that its share price is 26% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for Johnson & Johnson and UnitedHealth Group, as provided by MarketBeat.

Johnson & Johnson presently has a consensus target price of $166.6923, suggesting a potential upside of 1.92%. UnitedHealth Group has a consensus target price of $387.8182, suggesting a potential upside of 11.59%. Given UnitedHealth Group's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe UnitedHealth Group is more favorable than Johnson & Johnson.

Summary

UnitedHealth Group beats Johnson & Johnson on 10 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks.

Novartis (NYSE:NVS) and UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) are both large-cap medical companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, valuation, risk, dividends, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations and earnings.

Dividends

Novartis pays an annual dividend of $2.01 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.1%. UnitedHealth Group pays an annual dividend of $5.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.4%. Novartis pays out 38.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. UnitedHealth Group pays out 33.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. UnitedHealth Group has raised its dividend for 10 consecutive years.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Novartis and UnitedHealth Group's top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

UnitedHealth Group has higher revenue and earnings than Novartis. Novartis is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than UnitedHealth Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Novartis and UnitedHealth Group's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

9.9% of Novartis shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 86.0% of UnitedHealth Group shares are held by institutional investors. 0.0% of Novartis shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.8% of UnitedHealth Group shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Risk and Volatility

Novartis has a beta of 0.59, indicating that its stock price is 41% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, UnitedHealth Group has a beta of 0.74, indicating that its stock price is 26% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for Novartis and UnitedHealth Group, as provided by MarketBeat.

Novartis presently has a consensus target price of $114.00, suggesting a potential upside of 17.65%. UnitedHealth Group has a consensus target price of $387.8182, suggesting a potential upside of 11.59%. Given Novartis' higher possible upside, equities analysts clearly believe Novartis is more favorable than UnitedHealth Group.

Summary

UnitedHealth Group beats Novartis on 12 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) and UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) are both large-cap medical companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, valuation, risk, dividends, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations and earnings.

Dividends

Merck & Co., Inc. pays an annual dividend of $2.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.2%. UnitedHealth Group pays an annual dividend of $5.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.4%. Merck & Co., Inc. pays out 50.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. UnitedHealth Group pays out 33.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Merck & Co., Inc. has raised its dividend for 1 consecutive years and UnitedHealth Group has raised its dividend for 10 consecutive years.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Merck & Co., Inc. and UnitedHealth Group's top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

UnitedHealth Group has higher revenue and earnings than Merck & Co., Inc.. Merck & Co., Inc. is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than UnitedHealth Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Merck & Co., Inc. and UnitedHealth Group's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

72.9% of Merck & Co., Inc. shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 86.0% of UnitedHealth Group shares are held by institutional investors. 0.3% of Merck & Co., Inc. shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.8% of UnitedHealth Group shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Risk and Volatility

Merck & Co., Inc. has a beta of 0.43, indicating that its stock price is 57% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, UnitedHealth Group has a beta of 0.74, indicating that its stock price is 26% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for Merck & Co., Inc. and UnitedHealth Group, as provided by MarketBeat.

Merck & Co., Inc. presently has a consensus target price of $95.3571, suggesting a potential upside of 17.75%. UnitedHealth Group has a consensus target price of $387.8182, suggesting a potential upside of 11.59%. Given Merck & Co., Inc.'s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities analysts clearly believe Merck & Co., Inc. is more favorable than UnitedHealth Group.

Summary

UnitedHealth Group beats Merck & Co., Inc. on 11 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks.

Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:TMO) and UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) are both large-cap medical companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, valuation, risk, dividends, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations and earnings.

Dividends

Thermo Fisher Scientific pays an annual dividend of $0.88 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.2%. UnitedHealth Group pays an annual dividend of $5.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.4%. Thermo Fisher Scientific pays out 7.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. UnitedHealth Group pays out 33.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Thermo Fisher Scientific has raised its dividend for 3 consecutive years and UnitedHealth Group has raised its dividend for 10 consecutive years. UnitedHealth Group is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for Thermo Fisher Scientific and UnitedHealth Group, as provided by MarketBeat.

Thermo Fisher Scientific presently has a consensus target price of $492.8333, suggesting a potential downside of 4.23%. UnitedHealth Group has a consensus target price of $387.8182, suggesting a potential upside of 11.59%. Given UnitedHealth Group's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe UnitedHealth Group is more favorable than Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

87.2% of Thermo Fisher Scientific shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 86.0% of UnitedHealth Group shares are held by institutional investors. 0.4% of Thermo Fisher Scientific shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.8% of UnitedHealth Group shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Risk and Volatility

Thermo Fisher Scientific has a beta of 0.85, indicating that its stock price is 15% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, UnitedHealth Group has a beta of 0.74, indicating that its stock price is 26% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Thermo Fisher Scientific and UnitedHealth Group's top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

UnitedHealth Group has higher revenue and earnings than Thermo Fisher Scientific. UnitedHealth Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Thermo Fisher Scientific, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Thermo Fisher Scientific and UnitedHealth Group's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Summary

UnitedHealth Group beats Thermo Fisher Scientific on 10 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) and Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) are both large-cap medical companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, risk, institutional ownership, valuation, dividends, analyst recommendations and earnings.

Dividends

UnitedHealth Group pays an annual dividend of $5.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.4%. Pfizer pays an annual dividend of $1.52 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.2%. UnitedHealth Group pays out 33.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Pfizer pays out 51.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. UnitedHealth Group has increased its dividend for 10 consecutive years and Pfizer has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for UnitedHealth Group and Pfizer, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

UnitedHealth Group currently has a consensus price target of $387.8182, suggesting a potential upside of 11.59%. Pfizer has a consensus price target of $40.0714, suggesting a potential upside of 9.63%. Given UnitedHealth Group's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities research analysts plainly believe UnitedHealth Group is more favorable than Pfizer.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

86.0% of UnitedHealth Group shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 67.4% of Pfizer shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.8% of UnitedHealth Group shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 0.1% of Pfizer shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Volatility and Risk

UnitedHealth Group has a beta of 0.74, meaning that its share price is 26% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Pfizer has a beta of 0.7, meaning that its share price is 30% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares UnitedHealth Group and Pfizer's top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Pfizer has lower revenue, but higher earnings than UnitedHealth Group. Pfizer is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than UnitedHealth Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares UnitedHealth Group and Pfizer's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Summary

UnitedHealth Group beats Pfizer on 13 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) and Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) are both large-cap medical companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, risk, institutional ownership, valuation, dividends, analyst recommendations and earnings.

Dividends

UnitedHealth Group pays an annual dividend of $5.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.4%. Abbott Laboratories pays an annual dividend of $1.80 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.6%. UnitedHealth Group pays out 33.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Abbott Laboratories pays out 55.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. UnitedHealth Group has increased its dividend for 10 consecutive years and Abbott Laboratories has increased its dividend for 49 consecutive years. Abbott Laboratories is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for UnitedHealth Group and Abbott Laboratories, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

UnitedHealth Group currently has a consensus price target of $387.8182, suggesting a potential upside of 11.59%. Abbott Laboratories has a consensus price target of $115.6875, suggesting a potential upside of 2.52%. Given UnitedHealth Group's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities research analysts plainly believe UnitedHealth Group is more favorable than Abbott Laboratories.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

86.0% of UnitedHealth Group shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 72.6% of Abbott Laboratories shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.8% of UnitedHealth Group shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 1.7% of Abbott Laboratories shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Volatility and Risk

UnitedHealth Group has a beta of 0.74, meaning that its share price is 26% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Abbott Laboratories has a beta of 0.83, meaning that its share price is 17% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares UnitedHealth Group and Abbott Laboratories' top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

UnitedHealth Group has higher revenue and earnings than Abbott Laboratories. UnitedHealth Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Abbott Laboratories, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares UnitedHealth Group and Abbott Laboratories' net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Summary

UnitedHealth Group beats Abbott Laboratories on 11 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks.