West Family Investments Inc. Sells 8,595 Shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

West Family Investments Inc. decreased its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 67.5% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,139 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after selling 8,595 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group comprises about 0.8% of West Family Investments Inc.'s portfolio, making the stock its 19th biggest holding. West Family Investments Inc.'s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $2,420,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Tealwood Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $2,905,000. Asset Planning Services Inc. LA ADV grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 1.2% during the third quarter. Asset Planning Services Inc. LA ADV now owns 12,465 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $7,288,000 after buying an additional 150 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 13.7% in the 3rd quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 24,976 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $14,603,000 after acquiring an additional 3,006 shares during the last quarter. Americana Partners LLC raised its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 10.8% during the 3rd quarter. Americana Partners LLC now owns 20,377 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $11,914,000 after purchasing an additional 1,984 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 14.8% during the second quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. now owns 9,960 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $5,072,000 after buying an additional 1,283 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.86% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on UNH shares. Barclays cut their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $604.00 to $603.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Stephens reduced their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $632.00 to $605.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. UBS Group decreased their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $680.00 to $650.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Bank of America dropped their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $675.00 to $650.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, Hsbc Global Res cut shares of UnitedHealth Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $615.53.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Down 2.2 %

NYSE UNH traded down $12.72 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $576.93. 3,142,427 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,879,812. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $582.75 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $550.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 0.91. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 1 year low of $436.38 and a 1 year high of $630.73. The stock has a market cap of $530.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.74 and a beta of 0.58.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 15th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.15 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $7.00 by $0.15. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 3.63% and a return on equity of 26.37%. The company had revenue of $100.82 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $99.14 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $6.56 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.6 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Investors of record on Monday, December 9th will be given a dividend of $2.10 per share. This represents a $8.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.46%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 9th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 54.72%.

About UnitedHealth Group

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.