UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Downgraded by StockNews.com

StockNews.com downgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report published on Friday morning.

A number of other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. Piper Sandler increased their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $566.00 to $571.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, April 17th. Robert W. Baird assumed coverage on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Thursday, May 30th. They issued an outperform rating and a $597.00 price target for the company. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $596.00 to $555.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 17th. HSBC upgraded UnitedHealth Group from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $580.00 price target on the stock in a report on Wednesday, June 5th. Finally, Erste Group Bank reiterated a hold rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Wednesday, March 13th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $579.74.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of UNH stock opened at $509.58 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $469.01 billion, a PE ratio of 31.15, a PEG ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 0.58. UnitedHealth Group has a one year low of $436.38 and a one year high of $554.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.85. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $498.34 and its 200 day simple moving average is $502.27.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, April 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.63 by $0.28. The business had revenue of $99.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $99.23 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 4.05% and a return on equity of 26.50%. UnitedHealth Group’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $6.26 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group will post 27.57 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 25th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 17th were given a dividend of $2.10 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 17th. This is a positive change from UnitedHealth Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.88. This represents a $8.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.65%. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 51.34%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Richelieu Gestion SA purchased a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. CGC Financial Services LLC grew its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1,000.0% during the 4th quarter. CGC Financial Services LLC now owns 55 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares during the period. Delos Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 757.1% in the 1st quarter. Delos Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 60 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 53 shares during the period. True Wealth Design LLC purchased a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter worth about $31,000. Finally, LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA lifted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 148.1% during the 4th quarter. LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA now owns 67 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.86% of the company’s stock.

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.