Ameritas Advisory Services LLC Reduces Stock Holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Ameritas Advisory Services LLC decreased its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 7.1% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 9,178 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after selling 703 shares during the quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $4,643,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. International Assets Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 78,814.4% during the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 5,296,737 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $3,096,896,000 after purchasing an additional 5,290,025 shares during the period. Lone Pine Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $480,903,000. Accredited Investors Inc. boosted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 9,235.4% during the 3rd quarter. Accredited Investors Inc. now owns 784,924 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $458,929,000 after purchasing an additional 776,516 shares during the period. Raymond James & Associates raised its position in UnitedHealth Group by 33.1% in the third quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 2,361,396 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $1,380,661,000 after purchasing an additional 587,088 shares during the period. Finally, Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec boosted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 129.7% during the third quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 1,029,540 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $601,951,000 after buying an additional 581,324 shares during the period. 87.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UNH traded down $0.56 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $510.03. 7,462,712 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,104,531. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 1 year low of $436.38 and a 1 year high of $630.73. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $549.37 and a 200 day simple moving average of $563.18. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The stock has a market cap of $469.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.23, a PEG ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.62.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.81 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $6.74 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $100.81 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $101.60 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 3.63% and a return on equity of 26.37%. UnitedHealth Group's quarterly revenue was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $5.83 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th were paid a dividend of $2.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 9th. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.65%. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 54.72%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Barclays dropped their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $655.00 to $642.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday. UBS Group reduced their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $680.00 to $650.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Bank of America decreased their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $675.00 to $650.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $601.00 to $609.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, October 18th. Finally, HSBC raised UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $595.00 price target for the company in a report on Friday, January 10th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $627.74.

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.