UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Trading 1.3% Higher - What's Next?

Shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) rose 1.3% on Friday . The company traded as high as $496.46 and last traded at $495.56. Approximately 2,227,247 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 45% from the average daily volume of 4,078,607 shares. The stock had previously closed at $489.25.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Hsbc Global Res cut shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, October 17th. Truist Financial reiterated 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. UBS Group reduced their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $680.00 to $650.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Barclays upped their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $603.00 to $655.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $595.00 to $625.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 3rd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $626.84.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Up 2.2 %

The firm has a market capitalization of $460.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.58, a PEG ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 0.58. The business's 50 day moving average is $572.30 and its two-hundred day moving average is $559.45. 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 (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last released its 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 firm had revenue of $100.82 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $99.14 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.37% and a net margin of 3.63%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 9.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $6.56 earnings per share. Analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.61 EPS for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Investors of record on Monday, December 9th were issued a $2.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 9th. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.68%. UnitedHealth Group's payout ratio is currently 54.72%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of UNH. Kathleen S. Wright Associates Inc. purchased a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the third quarter worth approximately $27,000. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates raised its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 152.4% during the 3rd quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 53 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 32 shares during the period. West Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the third quarter worth $32,000. Quarry LP raised its position in UnitedHealth Group by 132.1% during the second quarter. Quarry LP now owns 65 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 37 shares during the period. Finally, VitalStone Financial LLC boosted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 600.0% during the 2nd quarter. VitalStone Financial LLC now owns 70 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Company 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.