DnB Asset Management AS Boosts Position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

DnB Asset Management AS raised its stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 9.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 270,758 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after purchasing an additional 23,391 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group accounts for about 0.6% of DnB Asset Management AS's portfolio, making the stock its 25th biggest position. DnB Asset Management AS's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $136,966,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of UNH. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter worth $6,375,744,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,914,740,000. Amundi increased its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 97.2% during the fourth quarter. Amundi now owns 6,069,100 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $3,183,132,000 after acquiring an additional 2,991,470 shares during the last quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC boosted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 76,830.4% in the fourth quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,888,641 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $955,388,000 after purchasing an additional 1,886,186 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec raised its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 129.7% during the 3rd 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 purchasing an additional 581,324 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at UnitedHealth Group

In other news, Director Timothy Patrick Flynn bought 1,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 17th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $511.57 per share, for a total transaction of $511,570.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 4,500 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,302,065. This trade represents a 28.57 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.33% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UNH has been the topic of several research reports. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $655.00 to $642.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Oppenheimer raised their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $610.00 to $640.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, December 6th. KeyCorp reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $650.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Friday, January 17th. HSBC raised shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $595.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, Stephens upped their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $605.00 to $675.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Twenty analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $629.32.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

UNH stock traded down $0.25 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $515.47. The company had a trading volume of 2,378,211 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,268,981. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $508.81 and a 200-day moving average price of $544.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.83 and a quick ratio of 0.91. The company has a market capitalization of $471.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.26, a P/E/G ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.62. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 1 year low of $436.38 and a 1 year high of $630.73.

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 for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $6.74 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $100.81 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $101.60 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.69% and a net margin of 3.60%. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $5.83 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 18th. Investors of record on Monday, March 10th were issued a dividend of $2.10 per share. This represents a $8.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.63%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 10th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 54.19%.

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.