Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD Lowers Stock Position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lessened its stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 14.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 21,401,754 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after selling 3,621,799 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group makes up about 1.2% of Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD's investment portfolio, making the stock its 12th largest position. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD owned about 2.33% of UnitedHealth Group worth $10,826,292,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Sugarloaf Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 17.6% during the 4th quarter. Sugarloaf Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,957 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $4,025,000 after buying an additional 1,193 shares in the last quarter. Signal Advisors Wealth LLC increased its position in UnitedHealth Group by 13.0% in the fourth quarter. Signal Advisors Wealth LLC now owns 9,115 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $4,611,000 after purchasing an additional 1,051 shares during the last quarter. Waycross Partners LLC lifted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 2.4% during the fourth quarter. Waycross Partners LLC now owns 27,794 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $14,060,000 after purchasing an additional 658 shares during the last quarter. Czech National Bank increased its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 6.1% in the 4th quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 199,536 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $100,937,000 after buying an additional 11,426 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lmcg Investments LLC grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 11.8% in the fourth quarter. Lmcg Investments LLC now owns 37,974 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $19,210,000 after acquiring an additional 4,022 shares in the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Down 1.4 %

Shares of UNH traded down $6.05 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $418.20. 9,255,934 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,475,126. The company has a market cap of $382.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.98, a P/E/G ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 0.83. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $412.02 and a fifty-two week high of $630.73. The stock's 50-day moving average is $503.28 and its 200-day moving average is $535.01.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results 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 firm had revenue of $109.58 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $111.56 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.69% and a net margin of 3.60%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $6.91 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 18th. Investors of record on Monday, March 10th were issued a $2.10 dividend. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.01%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 10th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 35.18%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on UNH. Mizuho raised their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $600.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $694.00 to $660.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 28th. Hsbc Global Res cut shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday. HSBC reiterated a "hold" rating and issued a $490.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $655.00 to $525.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have issued a buy rating and three have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group presently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $603.05.

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.