UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Shares Up 3.2% – Here’s Why

Shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) were up 3.2% on Friday . The company traded as high as $293.46 and last traded at $293.3290. Approximately 10,247,307 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 8% from the average daily volume of 11,139,948 shares. The stock had previously closed at $284.37.

More UnitedHealth Group News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Positive analyst revisions and forecasts — Zacks lifted several near‑term EPS estimates (notably Q1 2026) and issued a more constructive earnings outlook for FY2026/2027, supporting the view that earnings could rebound despite recent volatility. Zacks Research Issues Positive Forecast for UNH Earnings
• Positive Sentiment: Business strength from Optum expansion — coverage highlights that Optum continues to expand its services and platform, which supports UnitedHealth’s long‑term growth thesis and helps explain why some investors are buying the dip. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) Strengthens Healthcare Platform Through Optum Expansion
• Neutral Sentiment: Mizuho trims price target but keeps Outperform — the firm cut its UNH target to $350 (from $430) after Q4 results but retained an Outperform rating, a mixed signal that reduces upside expectations but leaves institutional conviction intact. Mizuho Lowers UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) Target to $350, Maintains Outperform Rating
• Negative Sentiment: Ongoing policy and cost worries — coverage warns that a flat Medicare Advantage rate outlook and elevated medical inflation could compress margins and limit premium increases, a key reason for recent selling pressure. Flat Medicare Advantage Outlook And Revenue Drop Might Change The Case For Investing In UNH
• Negative Sentiment: Fundamental caution from independent analysis — a Seeking Alpha piece re‑examines risks (medical cost inflation, government funding constraints, delayed Optum margin recovery) and argues the current valuation may already price in higher volatility. UnitedHealth: 3 Reasons Not To Buy (Revisited)
• Negative Sentiment: Market commentary questioning further downside — analysts and writers note the recent ~18% pullback over several weeks and debate whether weakness is temporary or signals deeper issues, keeping sentiment fragile. Is There More Downside To UNH Stock?

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on UNH. Mizuho reduced their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $430.00 to $350.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Oppenheimer decreased their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $415.00 to $385.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered 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. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $408.00 to $361.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein restated an “outperform” rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $372.13.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 3.2%

The company has a current ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. The firm has a market capitalization of $265.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.24, a PEG ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 0.41. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $320.91 and its 200 day moving average price is $323.31.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $2.11 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.09 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $113.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $113.38 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 2.69% and a return on equity of 14.79%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 12.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $6.81 earnings per share. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.750- EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of UnitedHealth Group

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in UnitedHealth Group by 1.1% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 91,600,260 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $30,238,162,000 after purchasing an additional 995,210 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its position in UnitedHealth Group by 2.5% in the fourth quarter. State Street Corp now owns 45,232,170 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $14,931,592,000 after acquiring an additional 1,119,834 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors boosted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 3.8% during the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 22,591,042 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $7,457,723,000 after purchasing an additional 824,120 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 3.3% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 21,312,182 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $6,624,411,000 after purchasing an additional 675,075 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Capital International Investors boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 6.6% during the fourth quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 18,655,111 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $6,158,734,000 after buying an additional 1,155,162 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.86% of the company’s stock.

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.