UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Shares Sold by Wallington Asset Management LLC

Wallington Asset Management LLC cut its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 20.8% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 28,551 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after selling 7,482 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group makes up 2.1% of Wallington Asset Management LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 19th largest holding. Wallington Asset Management LLC's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $14,443,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. State Street Corp increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 45,540,102 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $26,626,387,000 after buying an additional 563,554 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1.6% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 19,636,704 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $11,440,133,000 after acquiring an additional 318,039 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 2.5% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 8,061,916 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $4,884,019,000 after purchasing an additional 193,800 shares during the period. International Assets Investment Management LLC raised its position in UnitedHealth Group by 78,814.4% during the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 5,296,737 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $3,096,896,000 after purchasing an additional 5,290,025 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. grew its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 3,772,487 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $1,920,039,000 after buying an additional 21,149 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.86% of the company's stock.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of UnitedHealth Group stock traded down $0.56 on Friday, reaching $510.03. 7,462,712 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,104,531. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a twelve month low of $436.38 and a twelve month high of $630.73. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $549.37 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $563.18. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The firm has a market capitalization of $469.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.23, a PEG ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.62.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.81 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $6.74 by $0.07. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 3.63% and a return on equity of 26.37%. The firm had revenue of $100.81 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $101.60 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $5.83 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.6 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 issued a $2.10 dividend. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.65%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 9th. UnitedHealth Group's payout ratio is presently 54.72%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have issued reports on UNH shares. HSBC upgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $595.00 target price on the stock in a report on Friday, January 10th. KeyCorp reissued an "overweight" rating and set a $650.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Friday. TD Cowen lifted their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $601.00 to $609.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, October 18th. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and set a $700.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Friday. Finally, Barclays decreased their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $655.00 to $642.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $627.74.

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.