UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Stock Rating Upgraded by HSBC

HSBC upgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report released on Friday, MarketBeat reports. The brokerage currently has $595.00 price target on the healthcare conglomerate's stock.

Several other research analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Barclays increased their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $603.00 to $655.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. Stephens raised their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $605.00 to $675.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. TD Cowen raised their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $601.00 to $609.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, October 18th. Oppenheimer raised their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $610.00 to $640.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, December 6th. Finally, Truist Financial dropped their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $625.00 to $610.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Monday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, UnitedHealth Group currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $626.79.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Down 0.8 %

UNH stock traded down $4.41 during trading on Friday, hitting $520.11. The company had a trading volume of 5,461,672 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,202,728. The business has a 50-day moving average of $555.25 and a 200-day moving average of $561.41. UnitedHealth Group has a one year low of $436.38 and a one year high of $630.73. The stock has a market cap of $478.65 billion, a PE ratio of 33.88, a PEG ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, 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 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 company had revenue of $100.82 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $99.14 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.37% and a net margin of 3.63%. UnitedHealth Group's revenue for the quarter was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $6.56 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group will post 27.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 9th were paid a $2.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 9th. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.62%. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 54.72%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Kathleen S. Wright Associates Inc. bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates grew its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 152.4% in the 3rd quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 53 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 32 shares during the last quarter. West Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Quarry LP boosted its position in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 37 shares in the last quarter. Finally, RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the third quarter valued at approximately $37,000. 87.86% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.