UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Shares Bought by T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc.

T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 17.8% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 4,785,940 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after buying an additional 723,115 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group accounts for approximately 1.5% of T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc.'s holdings, making the stock its 8th biggest position. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. owned about 0.52% of UnitedHealth Group worth $2,421,016,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. NewSquare Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Hurley Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter worth $28,000. AlphaMark Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter valued at about $30,000. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd purchased a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Promus Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. 87.86% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Down 1.4 %

UNH stock traded down $6.05 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $418.20. The company's stock had a trading volume of 9,255,934 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,475,126. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 52-week low of $412.02 and a 52-week high of $630.73. The firm has a market capitalization of $382.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.98, a PEG ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $503.28 and a 200-day simple moving average of $535.01.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last issued 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). The firm had revenue of $109.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $111.56 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.69% and a net margin of 3.60%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $6.91 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 EPS for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 10th were paid a dividend of $2.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 10th. This represents a $8.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.01%. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 35.18%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on UNH shares. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $655.00 to $525.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an "overweight" rating and set a $700.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $664.00 to $563.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday. Mizuho upped their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $600.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, Barclays decreased their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $642.00 to $560.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 21st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have given a buy rating and three have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $603.05.

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.