Sanctuary Advisors LLC purchased a new position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 214,643 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock, valued at approximately $89,212,000.
A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $4,376,167,000. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 4.6% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 76,863,061 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $31,946,594,000 after acquiring an additional 3,395,530 shares during the period. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 141.9% during the fourth quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,109,029 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $1,356,432,000 after acquiring an additional 2,410,128 shares during the period. Cardano Risk Management B.V. grew its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 864.4% in the 4th quarter. Cardano Risk Management B.V. now owns 2,523,700 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $833,099,000 after purchasing an additional 2,262,006 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE lifted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 21.8% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 11,713,684 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $3,169,606,000 after purchasing an additional 2,097,859 shares during the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Insider Activity at UnitedHealth Group
In related news, CEO Patrick Hugh Conway sold 1,169 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $390.00, for a total transaction of $455,910.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 15,328 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,977,920. The trade was a 7.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 0.19% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.
UnitedHealth Group Stock Down 0.5%
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH – Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.38 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.94 by $1.44. The company had revenue of $112.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $110.81 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 16.53% and a net margin of 3.14%.The business’s revenue for the quarter was up .4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $4.08 EPS. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 19.500-20.000 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 19.82 EPS for the current year.
UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 22nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 14th will be paid a $2.32 dividend. This represents a $9.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 14th. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 59.72%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
UNH has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Oppenheimer upped their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $420.00 to $500.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, July 17th. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $463.00 to $478.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, July 17th. Wall Street Zen raised UnitedHealth Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, August 8th. HC Wainwright set a $492.00 target price on UnitedHealth Group in a report on Wednesday, May 27th. Finally, TD Cowen lifted their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $337.00 to $430.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 14th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have issued a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $456.56.
Get Our Latest Analysis on UnitedHealth Group
Key UnitedHealth Group News
Here are the key news stories impacting UnitedHealth Group this week:
- Positive Sentiment: UnitedHealth is viewed more favorably than Elevance Health, with analysts citing stronger earnings prospects, improving Medicare profitability, greater potential upside and a more attractive risk-reward profile. UnitedHealth vs. Elevance: Which Managed-Care Stock Is a Better Buy?
- Positive Sentiment: Recent quarterly results provide fundamental support: UnitedHealth exceeded EPS and revenue expectations, and management maintained fiscal 2026 earnings guidance of approximately $19.50 to $20.00 per share. The earnings beat has helped reinforce confidence in the company’s outlook. UnitedHealth Group stock holds near $399 as Q2 2026 earnings beat supports higher EPS guidance
- Positive Sentiment: Industry commentary remains constructive on managed-care companies, citing steady premium revenue, an aging U.S. population, digital transformation, diversified membership and potential benefits from strategic acquisitions. UnitedHealth is among the companies identified as positioned to benefit. Zacks Industry Outlook UnitedHealth, The Cigna, Humana, Centene and Molina
- Neutral Sentiment: Analysts collectively maintain a “Moderate Buy” rating, indicating a generally favorable view but not unanimous conviction. UnitedHealth Group Receives Consensus Rating of Moderate Buy
- Negative Sentiment: Commercial insurance remains a key risk. Although Medicare profitability is improving, commercial medical costs continue to rise and the expected margin improvement has been delayed, potentially limiting earnings growth. UnitedHealth Stock’s Biggest Risk Sits in the Commercial Book
- Negative Sentiment: CEO Patrick Hugh Conway sold 1,169 shares for approximately $456,000, reducing his position by 7.09%. The sale was disclosed in an SEC filing and could add modest near-term pressure, although it represents a relatively small portion of his remaining holdings. SEC insider transaction filing
UnitedHealth Group Company 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.
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