Verity & Verity LLC Has $1.04 Million Holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Verity & Verity LLC grew its position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 36.9% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,052 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after acquiring an additional 553 shares during the period. Verity & Verity LLC's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $1,038,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of UNH. Kathleen S. Wright Associates Inc. bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the third quarter valued at about $27,000. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates raised its position in UnitedHealth Group by 152.4% in the 3rd quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 53 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 32 shares during the last quarter. West Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 3rd quarter valued at $32,000. Quarry LP boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 132.1% in the second quarter. Quarry LP now owns 65 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 37 shares during the last quarter. Finally, RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the 3rd quarter worth about $37,000. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

UNH stock traded down $0.56 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $510.03. The stock had a trading volume of 7,462,712 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,104,531. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $436.38 and a fifty-two week high of $630.73. The stock has a market capitalization of $469.37 billion, a PE ratio of 33.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.62. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $549.37 and a 200 day simple moving average of $563.18. 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 (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $6.74 by $0.07. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.37% and a net margin of 3.63%. The company had revenue of $100.81 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $101.60 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $5.83 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.6 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have commented on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $615.00 to $595.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Hsbc Global Res upgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. KeyCorp reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $650.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Friday. Stephens boosted their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $605.00 to $675.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $595.00 to $625.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, December 3rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $627.74.

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.