UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) is Vantage Investment Partners LLC's 2nd Largest Position

Vantage Investment Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 42.2% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 152,107 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after purchasing an additional 45,173 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group comprises 6.7% of Vantage Investment Partners LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 2nd largest position. Vantage Investment Partners LLC's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $75,247,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Richelieu Gestion SA bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. CGC Financial Services LLC increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 1,000.0% during the fourth quarter. CGC Financial Services LLC now owns 55 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter valued at $31,000. LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA grew its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 148.1% during the fourth quarter. LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA now owns 67 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Red Tortoise LLC grew its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 45.1% during the first quarter. Red Tortoise LLC now owns 74 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 23 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently commented on UNH shares. Barclays upped their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $534.00 to $560.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 17th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $596.00 to $555.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 17th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $545.00 to $562.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, April 19th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $618.00 to $584.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 5th. Finally, Piper Sandler upped their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $566.00 to $571.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 17th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $579.74.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Down 0.4 %

NYSE UNH traded down $1.88 on Friday, hitting $488.01. 3,230,423 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,271,093. The firm has a market capitalization of $449.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 0.60. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a twelve month low of $436.38 and a twelve month high of $554.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.85. The company's 50 day moving average price is $498.61 and its 200-day moving average price is $500.96.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $6.63 by $0.28. The company had revenue of $99.80 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $99.23 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.50% and a net margin of 4.05%. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $6.26 EPS. Analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 25th. Investors of record on Monday, June 17th were issued a $2.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 17th. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.72%. This is an increase from UnitedHealth Group's previous quarterly dividend of $1.88. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 51.34%.

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.