Leerink Partnrs Issues Pessimistic Forecast for UNH Earnings

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) - Leerink Partnrs reduced their Q2 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for UnitedHealth Group in a report released on Monday, April 21st. Leerink Partnrs analyst W. Mayo now anticipates that the healthcare conglomerate will post earnings of $6.33 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $7.53. The consensus estimate for UnitedHealth Group's current full-year earnings is $29.54 per share. Leerink Partnrs also issued estimates for UnitedHealth Group's Q3 2025 earnings at $6.55 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $6.14 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $26.23 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $7.43 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $7.64 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $7.15 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $30.56 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $34.77 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $39.46 EPS.

A number of other brokerages also recently issued reports on UNH. HSBC reaffirmed a "hold" rating and issued a $490.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Tuesday. KeyCorp dropped their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $650.00 to $575.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday. Truist Financial lowered their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $660.00 to $580.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $694.00 to $660.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. Finally, Raymond James reissued a "strong-buy" rating and issued a $540.00 target price (down from $635.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Monday. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have issued a buy rating and three have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $604.67.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

Shares of UNH stock opened at $428.25 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $391.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.63, a PEG ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.61. 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 stock's 50-day moving average is $506.92 and its 200 day moving average is $537.23. UnitedHealth Group has a 1-year low of $417.12 and a 1-year high of $630.73.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last released 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 business had revenue of $109.58 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $111.56 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 3.60% and a return on equity of 26.69%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $6.91 earnings per share.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 10th were paid a dividend of $2.10 per share. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.96%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 10th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 35.18%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Financial Management Professionals Inc. increased its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 0.8% during the 1st quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 2,224 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $1,165,000 after purchasing an additional 17 shares during the period. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 2.2% in the fourth quarter. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP now owns 902 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $456,000 after purchasing an additional 19 shares in the last quarter. MCF Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 2,578 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $1,304,000 after buying an additional 20 shares during the last quarter. Axiom Financial Strategies LLC boosted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 3.6% in the 4th quarter. Axiom Financial Strategies LLC now owns 575 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $291,000 after purchasing an additional 20 shares during the period. Finally, Richwood Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in UnitedHealth Group by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. Richwood Investment Advisors LLC now owns 5,247 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $2,654,000 after purchasing an additional 20 shares during the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.

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