Decatur Capital Management Inc. Trims Stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Decatur Capital Management Inc. lessened its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 47.2% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,739 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after selling 3,340 shares during the period. Decatur Capital Management Inc.'s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $2,186,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of UNH. Kathleen S. Wright Associates Inc. acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the third quarter worth $27,000. Macroview Investment Management LLC raised its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 671.4% during the second quarter. Macroview Investment Management LLC now owns 54 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates boosted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 152.4% during the 3rd quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 53 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 32 shares in the last quarter. Signature Resources Capital Management LLC increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 40.0% in the second quarter. Signature Resources Capital Management LLC now owns 63 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 18 shares in the last quarter. Finally, West Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 3rd quarter worth $32,000. Institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Up 0.9 %

UNH traded up $4.72 on Friday, hitting $520.48. 7,775,426 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,985,398. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 0.91. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12 month low of $436.38 and a 12 month high of $630.73. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $583.29 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $559.30. The stock has a market capitalization of $478.99 billion, a PE ratio of 33.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 0.58.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 15th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.15 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $7.00 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $100.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $99.14 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 3.63% and a return on equity of 26.37%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 9.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $6.56 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.61 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Investors of record on Monday, December 9th will be paid a $2.10 dividend. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.61%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 9th. UnitedHealth Group's payout ratio is 54.72%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on UNH shares. Stephens increased their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $605.00 to $675.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $615.00 to $595.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. UBS Group decreased 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 reduced their price objective 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. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald boosted their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $591.00 to $644.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $626.84.

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.