UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Shares Acquired by Parnassus Investments LLC

Parnassus Investments LLC boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 8,993.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 189,415 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after acquiring an additional 187,332 shares during the quarter. Parnassus Investments LLC's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $110,747,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Kathleen S. Wright Associates Inc. purchased a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the third quarter worth $27,000. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates increased its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 152.4% in the third quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 53 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 32 shares in the last quarter. Macroview Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 671.4% in the second quarter. Macroview Investment Management LLC now owns 54 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. West Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the third quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Bbjs Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter valued at $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Down 2.2 %

UnitedHealth Group stock traded down $12.72 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $576.93. 3,142,427 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,879,812. The company's fifty day moving average price is $582.75 and its 200-day moving average price is $550.66. The company has a market cap of $530.94 billion, a PE ratio of 37.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.74 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.91. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $436.38 and a fifty-two week high of $630.73.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 15th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.15 earnings per share (EPS) 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 company had revenue of $100.82 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $99.14 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $6.56 EPS. UnitedHealth Group's quarterly revenue was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.6 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 9th will be given a $2.10 dividend. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.46%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 9th. UnitedHealth Group's payout ratio is 54.72%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on UNH. Stephens dropped their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $632.00 to $605.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. TD Cowen increased their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $601.00 to $609.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, October 18th. StockNews.com raised UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th. Barclays decreased their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $604.00 to $603.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 22nd. Finally, Hsbc Global Res lowered UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $615.53.

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.