Aware Super Pty Ltd as trustee of Aware Super Invests $35.39 Million in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Aware Super Pty Ltd as trustee of Aware Super purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 69,966 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock, valued at approximately $35,393,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in UNH. NewSquare Capital LLC acquired a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Hurley Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. AlphaMark Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, Promus Capital LLC acquired a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter valued at about $32,000. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages recently issued reports on UNH. Hsbc Global Res raised shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. Mizuho raised their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $600.00 to $650.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. KeyCorp reissued an "overweight" rating and issued a $650.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an "overweight" rating and issued a $700.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Finally, HSBC raised UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $595.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 10th. Twenty-one analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and three have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $632.85.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNH traded down $128.94 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $456.10. The company had a trading volume of 29,048,929 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,391,399. The firm has a market cap of $417.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.43, a PEG ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The company's 50-day moving average price is $514.51 and its 200-day moving average price is $541.53. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a one year low of $438.50 and a one year high of $630.73.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 17th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $7.29 by ($0.09). The company had revenue of $109.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $111.56 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.69% and a net margin of 3.60%. During the same period last year, the company posted $6.91 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate 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. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 10th were paid a $2.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 10th. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.84%. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is presently 54.19%.

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.