UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Trading 0.8% Higher - Here's What Happened

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report)'s stock price traded up 0.8% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $520.98 and last traded at $519.65. 484,690 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 88% from the average session volume of 4,073,608 shares. The stock had previously closed at $515.72.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently commented on UNH. Oppenheimer increased their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $610.00 to $640.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, December 6th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $694.00 to $660.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 28th. Piper Sandler cut their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $605.00 to $600.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 2nd. Stephens increased their price objective on shares of 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 raised their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $595.00 to $625.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 3rd. Twenty equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $629.32.

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UnitedHealth Group Trading Down 0.0 %

The firm has a market capitalization of $471.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.26, a P/E/G ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.62. The firm's 50-day moving average is $508.81 and its 200 day moving average is $544.24. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.81 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.74 by $0.07. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.69% and a net margin of 3.60%. The company had revenue of $100.81 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $101.60 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $5.83 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities 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. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 10th were paid a $2.10 dividend. This represents a $8.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.63%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 10th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 54.19%.

Insider Activity at UnitedHealth Group

In related news, Director Timothy Patrick Flynn purchased 1,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 17th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $511.57 per share, for a total transaction of $511,570.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 4,500 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,302,065. This represents a 28.57 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.33% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. NewSquare Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Marshall & Sterling Wealth Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Hurley Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, AlphaMark Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. 87.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.