Vanguard Group Inc. Sells 315,325 Shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated $UNH

Vanguard Group Inc. lessened its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) by 0.3% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 90,605,050 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock after selling 315,325 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group accounts for about 0.5% of Vanguard Group Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 26th largest holding. Vanguard Group Inc. owned approximately 0.10% of UnitedHealth Group worth $31,285,924,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter worth approximately $25,000. Sagard Holdings Management Inc. bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter worth $29,000. Cloud Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $32,000. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, Islay Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter worth approximately $31,000. Institutional investors own 87.86% of the company’s stock.

Trending Headlines about UnitedHealth Group

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?

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. KeyCorp reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. 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. Oppenheimer dropped their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $415.00 to $385.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an “overweight” rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, Mizuho cut their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $430.00 to $350.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have given a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, UnitedHealth Group has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $372.13.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UNH opened at $293.33 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $265.71 billion, a PE ratio of 22.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 0.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 0.79 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $320.91 and a 200-day moving average price of $323.71. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 1 year low of $234.60 and a 1 year high of $606.36.

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

UnitedHealth Group Profile

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.