473,398 Shares in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Bought by B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG

B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG acquired a new stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 473,398 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock, valued at approximately $276,785,000. UnitedHealth Group comprises about 2.8% of B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG's investment portfolio, making the stock its 7th largest holding. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG owned about 0.05% of UnitedHealth Group at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 20.6% in the first quarter. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 10,867 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $5,376,000 after purchasing an additional 1,857 shares during the period. Quent Capital LLC raised its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 5.5% during the first quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 4,196 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $2,076,000 after acquiring an additional 217 shares during the last quarter. Ossiam increased its position in UnitedHealth Group by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Ossiam now owns 120,403 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $59,563,000 after purchasing an additional 2,199 shares during the period. Crewe Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 1st quarter valued at $1,015,000. Finally, Payden & Rygel Investment Group bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the first quarter valued at $15,029,000. Institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNH traded down $12.65 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $577.00. The company had a trading volume of 3,141,930 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,879,812. 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 company's 50-day moving average price is $582.75 and its 200-day moving average price is $550.66. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a one year low of $436.38 and a one year high of $630.73. The firm has a market cap of $531.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.84, a PEG ratio of 1.74 and a beta of 0.58.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 15th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.15 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $7.00 by $0.15. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.37% and a net margin of 3.63%. The business had revenue of $100.82 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $99.14 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $6.56 EPS. The firm's revenue was up 9.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.6 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Investors of record on Monday, December 9th will be paid a dividend of $2.10 per share. This represents a $8.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.46%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 9th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is 54.72%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNH has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. StockNews.com upgraded UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. HSBC cut shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $615.00 to $610.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Stephens reduced their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $632.00 to $605.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, TD Cowen raised their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $601.00 to $609.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, October 18th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $615.53.

UnitedHealth Group 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.