UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Price Target Lowered to $563.00 at Morgan Stanley

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) had its price objective lowered by Morgan Stanley from $664.00 to $563.00 in a research report report published on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an overweight rating on the healthcare conglomerate's stock.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Argus cut shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday. Truist Financial cut their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $660.00 to $580.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Monday. Hsbc Global Res raised shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. KeyCorp lowered their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $650.00 to $575.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have given a buy rating and three have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $604.67.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of NYSE:UNH traded up $1.07 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $428.25. 8,338,869 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,439,721. 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 cap of $391.73 billion, a PE ratio of 27.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.61. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $506.92 and a 200-day moving average price of $537.23. UnitedHealth Group has a 12 month low of $417.12 and a 12 month high of $630.73.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 17th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.20 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.29 by ($0.09). The firm had revenue of $109.58 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate 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 in the prior year, the business earned $6.91 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group will post 29.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 18th. Stockholders 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 dividend yield of 1.96%. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 35.18%.

Institutional Trading of UnitedHealth Group

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNH. NewSquare Capital LLC purchased a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Marshall & Sterling Wealth Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Hurley Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, AlphaMark Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. 87.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.