UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Position Lessened by New York State Teachers Retirement System

New York State Teachers Retirement System decreased its stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 850,460 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after selling 31,496 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group accounts for 1.0% of New York State Teachers Retirement System's investment portfolio, making the stock its 13th largest holding. New York State Teachers Retirement System owned about 0.09% of UnitedHealth Group worth $497,247,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Tealwood Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the third quarter valued at about $2,905,000. Asset Planning Services Inc. LA ADV increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter. Asset Planning Services Inc. LA ADV now owns 12,465 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $7,288,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. Vantage Investment Partners LLC boosted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 42.2% during the first quarter. Vantage Investment Partners LLC now owns 152,107 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $75,247,000 after purchasing an additional 45,173 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 13.7% in the third quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 24,976 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $14,603,000 after buying an additional 3,006 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Maryland State Retirement & Pension System grew its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 72,689 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $35,126,000 after acquiring an additional 469 shares during the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 0.1 %

UNH traded up $0.83 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $562.96. 2,314,914 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,912,382. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.88. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $582.88 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $540.32. The company has a market cap of $519.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.62, a PEG ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 0.58. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $436.38 and a fifty-two week high of $608.63.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 15th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.15 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $7.00 by $0.15. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.37% and a net margin of 3.63%. The firm had revenue of $100.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $99.14 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $6.56 EPS. UnitedHealth Group's quarterly revenue was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 24th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 16th were issued a $2.10 dividend. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.49%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 16th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is presently 54.72%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have weighed in on UNH shares. TD Cowen raised their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $601.00 to $609.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, October 18th. KeyCorp initiated coverage on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Friday, October 11th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $675.00 price target for the company. StockNews.com cut shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $597.00 to $640.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. Finally, Stephens decreased their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $632.00 to $605.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $615.53.

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.