Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC Increases Holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC lifted its stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 53.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 87,219 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after purchasing an additional 30,340 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group accounts for 0.7% of Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 19th largest position. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $50,995,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Tealwood Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the third quarter worth approximately $2,905,000. Asset Planning Services Inc. LA ADV increased its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1.2% during the third quarter. Asset Planning Services Inc. LA ADV now owns 12,465 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $7,288,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its holdings 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 worth $14,603,000 after acquiring an additional 3,006 shares during the period. Americana Partners LLC lifted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 10.8% during the third quarter. Americana Partners LLC now owns 20,377 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $11,914,000 after purchasing an additional 1,984 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. increased its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 14.8% during the 2nd quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. now owns 9,960 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $5,072,000 after purchasing an additional 1,283 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.86% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Up 3.0 %

Shares of UNH stock traded up $17.38 on Wednesday, reaching $594.38. 1,798,660 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,870,813. 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 Incorporated has a 1-year low of $436.38 and a 1-year high of $630.73. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $582.31 and a two-hundred day moving average of $551.25. The stock has a market cap of $547.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.74 and a beta of 0.58.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 15th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.15 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $7.00 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $100.82 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $99.14 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 3.63% and a return on equity of 26.37%. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $6.56 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.6 EPS for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Investors of record on Monday, December 9th will be given a $2.10 dividend. This represents a $8.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 9th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 54.72%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on UNH shares. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $615.00 to $610.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $604.00 to $603.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 22nd. UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $680.00 to $650.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $615.00 to $595.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, Stephens reduced their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $632.00 to $605.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target 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.