Whitford Management LLC Increases Position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Whitford Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) by 141.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 18,675 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock after purchasing an additional 10,950 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group makes up approximately 2.5% of Whitford Management LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 11th largest holding. Whitford Management LLC’s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $9,447,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Williams Jones Wealth Management LLC. increased its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 3.3% in the 4th quarter. Williams Jones Wealth Management LLC. now owns 53,704 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $27,167,000 after acquiring an additional 1,703 shares during the last quarter. Woodline Partners LP bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter worth about $26,637,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC raised its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 37.8% during the fourth quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 547 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $277,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares during the period. Victrix Investment Advisors acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $2,689,000. Finally, Sone Capital Management LLC bought a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth $6,555,000. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

UNH opened at $315.80 on Tuesday. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12-month low of $248.88 and a 12-month high of $630.73. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The firm has a market capitalization of $286.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.37, a PEG ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.56. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $467.51 and a 200-day moving average of $511.49.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 17th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.20 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.29 by ($0.09). The business had revenue of $109.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $111.56 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 3.60% and a return on equity of 26.69%. During the same period last year, the firm earned $6.91 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 10th were issued a dividend of $2.10 per share. This represents a $8.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.66%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 10th. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 35.18%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other UnitedHealth Group news, Director John H. Noseworthy acquired 300 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $312.16 per share, with a total value of $93,648.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 6,063 shares in the company, valued at $1,892,626.08. The trade was a 5.21% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CFO John F. Rex bought 17,175 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, May 16th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $291.12 per share, with a total value of $4,999,986.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 203,796 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $59,329,091.52. This represents a 9.20% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders bought 109,408 shares of company stock worth $31,607,768. Corporate insiders own 0.33% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have issued reports on UNH. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $521.00 to $362.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, May 14th. Barclays cut their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $513.00 to $362.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, May 15th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $563.00 to $374.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, May 14th. Raymond James lowered shares of UnitedHealth Group from a “strong-buy” rating to a “market perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 14th. Finally, Argus lowered UnitedHealth Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, April 21st. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, UnitedHealth Group has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $454.23.

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.