UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Trading Down 5.1% Following Analyst Downgrade

Shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) dropped 5.1% during mid-day trading on Monday after Hsbc Global Res downgraded the stock from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating. The stock traded as low as $431.98 and last traded at $431.11. Approximately 3,667,024 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 32% from the average daily volume of 5,425,924 shares. The stock had previously closed at $454.11.

Other research analysts have also issued reports about the company. KeyCorp lowered their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $650.00 to $575.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday. Argus lowered UnitedHealth Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating 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. StockNews.com upgraded UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Finally, Mizuho raised their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $600.00 to $650.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have given a buy rating and three have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $608.00.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

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

UnitedHealth Group Trading Up 0.6 %

The company's 50-day moving average is $508.83 and its 200-day moving average is $537.99. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $393.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.73, a PEG ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.61.

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

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 18th. Shareholders 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 yield of 1.95%. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is presently 35.18%.

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.