UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH – Free Report) had its target price increased by Barclays from $429.00 to $441.00 in a report released on Monday,Benzinga reports. Barclays currently has an overweight rating on the healthcare conglomerate’s stock.
UNH has been the subject of several other research reports. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $468.00 to $529.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, July 17th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $397.00 to $485.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. UBS Group increased their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $460.00 to $490.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, July 17th. Piper Sandler set a $477.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded UnitedHealth Group from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, July 13th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have assigned a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $455.92.
Get Our Latest Research Report on UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.94 by $1.44. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 3.14% and a return on equity of 16.53%. The firm had revenue of $112.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $110.81 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $4.08 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up .4% on a year-over-year basis. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 19.500-20.000 EPS. On average, analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group will post 19.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.
UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 23rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 15th were paid a dividend of $2.32 per share. This represents a $9.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 15th. This is an increase from UnitedHealth Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $2.21. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 59.72%.
Institutional Trading of UnitedHealth Group
Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Ares Financial Consulting LLC raised its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 7.2% during the second quarter. Ares Financial Consulting LLC now owns 419 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $174,000 after acquiring an additional 28 shares in the last quarter. Kellett Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. Kellett Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,746 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $576,000 after purchasing an additional 29 shares during the last quarter. Founders Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 3.0% during the 4th quarter. Founders Capital Management LLC now owns 982 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $324,000 after purchasing an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. Rockland Trust Co. grew its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1.1% in the second quarter. Rockland Trust Co. now owns 2,589 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $1,076,000 after buying an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Matrix Trust Co raised its position in UnitedHealth Group by 24.8% during the second quarter. Matrix Trust Co now owns 146 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $61,000 after acquiring an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Trending Headlines about UnitedHealth Group
Here are the key news stories impacting UnitedHealth Group this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Analysts and market-watchers highlighted improving earnings estimates for UnitedHealth, with Zacks upgrading UNH to a Strong Buy and noting that rising consensus forecasts could support more upside. Will UnitedHealth (UNH) Gain on Rising Earnings Estimates?
- Positive Sentiment: JPMorgan raised its price target on UNH to $516 and kept an overweight rating, signaling continued confidence in the company’s turnaround and earnings power. UnitedHealth Group had its price target raised by JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Positive Sentiment: Recent commentary also pointed to strong quarterly results, raised guidance, and a $5 billion buyback authorization as catalysts that could support further gains in UNH. A $5 Billion Reason to Buy UnitedHealth Stock Here
- Positive Sentiment: UNH was also featured as a dividend and defensive healthcare name, reinforcing investor demand for stable cash flow and lower-volatility exposure. UnitedHealth Stock: Is It Headed for $500?
- Neutral Sentiment: CNBC’s “Final Trades” mention added visibility to UNH, but the item did not include a specific new thesis or company-specific development. Nvidia, Goldman Sachs, UnitedHealth and an Energy Stock on CNBC’s ‘Final Trades’
- Negative Sentiment: Some analysts cautioned that UNH’s rebound may not be linear and could face near-term consolidation, suggesting investors may see pauses or pullbacks even within a broader recovery. UnitedHealth: Recovery Unlikely To Be Linear – Near-Term Consolidation Risks
- Negative Sentiment: Broader healthcare commentary also noted skepticism around the sector’s AI story, which may weigh on sentiment for some healthcare names if investors view the narrative as overstated. Fishbone Advisors Survey: Institutional Investors See Healthcare’s AI Story as Overblown
About UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealth Group Inc is a diversified health care company headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, that operates two primary business platforms: UnitedHealthcare and Optum. Founded in 1977, the company provides a broad range of health benefits and health care services to individuals, employers, governmental entities and other organizations. Its operations span commercial employer-sponsored plans, individual and Medicare and Medicaid programs, and services for customers and health systems in the United States and selected international markets.
UnitedHealthcare is the company’s benefits business, administering health plans and networks, managing provider relationships, and offering coverage products for employers, individuals, and government-sponsored programs.
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