Vulcan Value Partners LLC Buys Shares of 113,489 UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Vulcan Value Partners LLC purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 113,489 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock, valued at approximately $57,397,000. UnitedHealth Group makes up 1.0% of Vulcan Value Partners LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd biggest holding.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $6,375,744,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter valued at $1,914,740,000. Amundi grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 97.2% during the fourth quarter. Amundi now owns 6,069,100 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $3,183,132,000 after buying an additional 2,991,470 shares in the last quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 76,830.4% in the 4th quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,888,641 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $955,388,000 after acquiring an additional 1,886,186 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Capital International Investors grew its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 6.2% during the fourth quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 15,616,007 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $7,899,905,000 after purchasing an additional 906,365 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Down 1.4 %

Shares of NYSE UNH opened at $418.20 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $503.28 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $535.01. The firm has a market capitalization of $382.53 billion, a PE ratio of 26.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.61. 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 Incorporated has a 12 month low of $412.02 and a 12 month high of $630.73.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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 net margin of 3.60% and a return on equity of 26.69%. The firm had revenue of $109.58 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $111.56 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $6.91 earnings per share. Equities analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have commented on UNH. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $664.00 to $563.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. Truist Financial reduced their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $660.00 to $580.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 21st. Oppenheimer dropped their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $640.00 to $600.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 21st. Hsbc Global Res cut UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Barclays reduced their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $642.00 to $560.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report 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 assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, UnitedHealth Group currently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target 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.

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