UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Announces Earnings Results

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday. The healthcare conglomerate reported $2.11 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.09 by $0.02, Zacks reports. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 4.04% and a return on equity of 19.23%. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $6.81 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 12.3% on a year-over-year basis. UnitedHealth Group updated its FY 2026 guidance to 17.750- EPS.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Down 1.1%

UNH opened at $352.32 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The stock has a market capitalization of $319.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.39, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 0.42. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $332.71 and a 200 day moving average price of $323.96. UnitedHealth Group has a 12 month low of $234.60 and a 12 month high of $606.36.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 16th. Investors of record on Monday, December 8th were paid a dividend of $2.21 per share. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 8th. UnitedHealth Group’s payout ratio is presently 46.14%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Imprint Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Riggs Asset Managment Co. Inc. increased its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 69.4% in the second quarter. Riggs Asset Managment Co. Inc. now owns 105 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Turning Point Benefit Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 3rd quarter worth about $41,000. Mpwm Advisory Solutions LLC raised its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1,090.9% during the 3rd quarter. Mpwm Advisory Solutions LLC now owns 131 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $45,000 after acquiring an additional 120 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wealth Watch Advisors INC acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $126,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.86% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting UnitedHealth Group

Here are the key news stories impacting UnitedHealth Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: UnitedHealth forecast 2026 adjusted profit slightly above analysts’ estimates, signaling that initial cost-control measures may be working. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts note UnitedHealth’s decision to rebate ACA profits and other moves as strategically positive for reputation and competitive positioning. Read More.
• Neutral Sentiment: UnitedHealth posted a modest Q4 earnings beat and 12% consolidated revenue growth for 2025, showing operational resilience even as margins are pressured. Read More.
• Neutral Sentiment: The company reiterated its turnaround progress in its press release while providing updated full-year outlook metrics. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: UnitedHealth took a $1.6 billion restructuring charge that pushed Q4 profit down to about $10 million — a large one-time hit that clouds near-term earnings. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: The company issued weaker 2026 revenue guidance (around $439B vs. street ~$456.6B), signaling expected revenue decline and slower top-line growth next year — the main driver of today’s negative reaction. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory/policy headwinds: the Trump administration proposed nearly flat Medicare Advantage rates for 2026, removing a key tailwind for UnitedHealthcare and prompting sector-wide selling. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Market reaction and trading scrutiny: shares plunged on the news and a recent trade filing by a congressman has drawn attention, adding short-term negative sentiment and volatility risk. Read More.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNH has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded UnitedHealth Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $333.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $310.00 to $425.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 9th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $411.00 to $409.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $386.00 to $391.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, January 5th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $406.00 price objective for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $386.33.

About UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group Inc is a diversified health care company headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, that operates two primary business platforms: UnitedHealthcare and Optum. Founded in 1977, the company provides a broad range of health benefits and health care services to individuals, employers, governmental entities and other organizations. Its operations span commercial employer-sponsored plans, individual and Medicare and Medicaid programs, and services for customers and health systems in the United States and selected international markets.

UnitedHealthcare is the company’s benefits business, administering health plans and networks, managing provider relationships, and offering coverage products for employers, individuals, and government-sponsored programs.