Q2 2024 EPS Estimates for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Decreased by Zacks Research

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) – Equities researchers at Zacks Research lowered their Q2 2024 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report issued on Tuesday, April 30th. Zacks Research analyst D. Chatterjee now expects that the healthcare conglomerate will post earnings of $6.77 per share for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $6.91. The consensus estimate for UnitedHealth Group’s current full-year earnings is $27.60 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for UnitedHealth Group’s Q3 2024 earnings at $7.21 EPS, Q4 2024 earnings at $6.62 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $27.51 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $31.08 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $8.39 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $35.11 EPS.

A number of other equities research analysts have also recently commented on UNH. TD Cowen cut their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $607.00 to $546.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 10th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $596.00 to $555.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 17th. Barclays increased their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $534.00 to $560.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 17th. Stephens reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $605.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Thursday, February 8th. Finally, Truist Financial reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $600.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Wednesday, April 17th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $570.05.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

Shares of UNH stock opened at $492.45 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $453.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.10, a PEG ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 0.55. The business’s fifty day moving average is $483.02 and its 200 day moving average is $513.07. UnitedHealth Group has a twelve month low of $436.38 and a twelve month high of $554.70. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, April 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.91 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.63 by $0.28. The company had revenue of $99.80 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $99.23 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.50% and a net margin of 4.05%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $6.26 earnings per share.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of UNH. Richardson Financial Services Inc. grew its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 10.4% during the first quarter. Richardson Financial Services Inc. now owns 2,605 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $1,289,000 after acquiring an additional 246 shares during the period. Embree Financial Group grew its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 12.1% during the first quarter. Embree Financial Group now owns 613 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $303,000 after acquiring an additional 66 shares during the period. Catalina Capital Group LLC boosted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 92.4% during the first quarter. Catalina Capital Group LLC now owns 3,027 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $1,497,000 after purchasing an additional 1,454 shares in the last quarter. Avidian Wealth Solutions LLC boosted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 31.3% during the first quarter. Avidian Wealth Solutions LLC now owns 2,394 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $1,184,000 after purchasing an additional 571 shares in the last quarter. Finally, TFB Advisors LLC boosted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 59.2% during the first quarter. TFB Advisors LLC now owns 982 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $475,000 after purchasing an additional 365 shares in the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CAO Thomas E. Roos sold 858 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $525.79, for a total transaction of $451,127.82. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 32,289 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,977,233.31. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,236 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $483.48, for a total transaction of $597,581.28. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,364 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,527,306.72. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CAO Thomas E. Roos sold 858 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $525.79, for a total value of $451,127.82. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 32,289 shares in the company, valued at $16,977,233.31. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.35% of the company’s stock.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 19th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 11th were issued a $1.88 dividend. This represents a $7.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.53%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 8th. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio is 45.97%.

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.