Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund Sells 2,346 Shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund reduced its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 7.9% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 27,340 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after selling 2,346 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group comprises approximately 1.1% of Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund's portfolio, making the stock its 13th biggest holding. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $15,985,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Meridian Investment Counsel Inc. purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $208,000. Nicollet Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 0.5% in the third quarter. Nicollet Investment Management Inc. now owns 8,340 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $4,876,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the period. Northcape Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. Northcape Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,308 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $2,519,000 after buying an additional 31 shares during the period. First Long Island Investors LLC increased its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 0.4% in the third quarter. First Long Island Investors LLC now owns 106,373 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $62,194,000 after acquiring an additional 452 shares during the period. Finally, Simplify Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 49.8% in the third quarter. Simplify Asset Management Inc. now owns 20,372 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $11,911,000 after purchasing an additional 6,772 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UNH traded down $0.92 during trading on Friday, hitting $592.23. The company had a trading volume of 3,423,919 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,888,996. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $582.84 and a 200 day simple moving average of $549.06. The firm has a market capitalization of $545.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.78 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 0.91. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12 month low of $436.38 and a 12 month high of $630.73.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 15th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.15 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $7.00 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $100.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $99.14 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 3.63% and a return on equity of 26.37%. The company's revenue was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $6.56 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.61 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th will be issued a $2.10 dividend. This represents a $8.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 9th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 54.72%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com raised UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday. HSBC lowered shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, October 17th. Truist Financial reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $625.00 price target (down from $640.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $615.00 to $595.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, Stephens dropped their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $632.00 to $605.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $615.53.

UnitedHealth Group 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.