Leerink Partnrs Issues Pessimistic Outlook for UNH Earnings

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) - Investment analysts at Leerink Partnrs reduced their Q1 2025 earnings estimates for UnitedHealth Group in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday, January 16th. Leerink Partnrs analyst W. Mayo now expects that the healthcare conglomerate will earn $7.30 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $7.34. The consensus estimate for UnitedHealth Group's current full-year earnings is $27.60 per share. Leerink Partnrs also issued estimates for UnitedHealth Group's Q2 2025 earnings at $7.53 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $7.64 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $7.22 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $29.69 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $8.38 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $8.55 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $8.60 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $8.13 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $38.25 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $43.57 EPS.

UNH has been the topic of several other research reports. Hsbc Global Res upgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 10th. TD Cowen raised their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $601.00 to $609.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, October 18th. UBS Group lowered their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $680.00 to $650.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Barclays dropped their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $655.00 to $642.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an "overweight" rating and issued a $700.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Friday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $627.74.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

UNH stock traded down $0.56 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $510.03. The company had a trading volume of 7,462,712 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,104,531. The stock has a market capitalization of $469.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.23, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.62. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $549.37 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $563.70. UnitedHealth Group has a one year low of $436.38 and a one year high of $630.73. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $6.74 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $100.81 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $101.60 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 3.63% and a return on equity of 26.37%. UnitedHealth Group's revenue was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $5.83 earnings per share.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. International Assets Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 78,814.4% in the third quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 5,296,737 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $3,096,896,000 after buying an additional 5,290,025 shares during the last quarter. Lone Pine Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter worth $480,903,000. Accredited Investors Inc. grew its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 9,235.4% in the 3rd quarter. Accredited Investors Inc. now owns 784,924 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $458,929,000 after buying an additional 776,516 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 33.1% during the third quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 2,361,396 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $1,380,661,000 after acquiring an additional 587,088 shares during the period. Finally, Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec increased its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 129.7% in the third quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 1,029,540 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $601,951,000 after purchasing an additional 581,324 shares during the period. 87.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Investors of record on Monday, December 9th were issued a dividend of $2.10 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 9th. This represents a $8.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.65%. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is 54.72%.

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.