Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership Sells 400,078 Shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership trimmed its stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 25.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,159,559 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after selling 400,078 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership owned approximately 0.13% of UnitedHealth Group worth $586,575,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of UNH. American Money Management LLC grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 15.7% in the fourth quarter. American Money Management LLC now owns 2,408 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $1,218,000 after acquiring an additional 326 shares in the last quarter. Allianz SE purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter valued at $25,802,000. WealthTrak Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $110,000. Biondo Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 2.0% during the fourth quarter. Biondo Investment Advisors LLC now owns 18,381 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $9,298,000 after acquiring an additional 358 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Allstate Corp boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 3,187.1% in the fourth quarter. Allstate Corp now owns 27,480 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $13,901,000 after acquiring an additional 26,644 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

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UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of UNH stock traded up $8.44 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $524.48. The company had a trading volume of 5,236,968 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,272,844. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a one year low of $436.38 and a one year high of $630.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 0.83. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $508.81 and a 200-day moving average price of $543.92. The firm has a market cap of $479.75 billion, a PE ratio of 33.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.62.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $6.74 by $0.07. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.69% and a net margin of 3.60%. The firm had revenue of $100.81 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $101.60 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $5.83 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 10th were given a dividend of $2.10 per share. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.60%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 10th. UnitedHealth Group's payout ratio is 54.19%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and issued a $700.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Friday, January 17th. StockNews.com upgraded UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. HSBC upgraded UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $595.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 10th. Barclays lowered their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $655.00 to $642.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Finally, KeyCorp reiterated an "overweight" rating and issued a $650.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Twenty equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group currently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $629.32.

Insider Buying and Selling at UnitedHealth Group

In other news, Director Timothy Patrick Flynn acquired 1,000 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 17th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $511.57 per share, with a total value of $511,570.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 4,500 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,302,065. This trade represents a 28.57 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.33% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

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.