Nippon Life Global Investors Americas Inc. Lowers Stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Nippon Life Global Investors Americas Inc. lessened its holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 9.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 103,750 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after selling 11,350 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group makes up about 2.4% of Nippon Life Global Investors Americas Inc.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 11th largest position. Nippon Life Global Investors Americas Inc.'s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $52,483,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank bought a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter valued at $6,375,744,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter worth about $1,914,740,000. Amundi boosted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 97.2% during the fourth quarter. Amundi now owns 6,069,100 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $3,183,132,000 after buying an additional 2,991,470 shares during the period. Proficio Capital Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 76,830.4% in the fourth quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,888,641 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $955,388,000 after buying an additional 1,886,186 shares during the period. Finally, Capital International Investors boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 6.2% during the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 15,616,007 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $7,899,905,000 after acquiring an additional 906,365 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of UnitedHealth Group stock traded up $1.07 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $428.25. The company had a trading volume of 8,338,869 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,439,718. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12-month low of $417.12 and a 12-month high of $630.73. The stock has a market cap of $391.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.63, a PEG ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $506.92 and a 200 day simple moving average of $537.23.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 17th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.20 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $7.29 by ($0.09). UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.69% and a net margin of 3.60%. The firm had revenue of $109.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $111.56 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $6.91 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 18th. Investors of record on Monday, March 10th were given a dividend of $2.10 per share. This represents a $8.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.96%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 10th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 35.18%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Hsbc Global Res lowered shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday. Piper Sandler reduced their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $605.00 to $600.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 2nd. Barclays dropped their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $642.00 to $560.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday. HSBC reiterated a "hold" rating and issued a $490.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Erste Group Bank upgraded UnitedHealth Group to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have issued a buy rating and three have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $604.67.

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.