Zacks Research Issues Negative Forecast for UNH Earnings

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) – Research analysts at Zacks Research reduced their Q3 2025 earnings per share estimates for UnitedHealth Group in a report issued on Tuesday, August 12th. Zacks Research analyst D. Chatterjee now expects that the healthcare conglomerate will earn $3.07 per share for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $6.77. The consensus estimate for UnitedHealth Group’s current full-year earnings is $29.54 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for UnitedHealth Group’s Q4 2025 earnings at $2.14 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $16.49 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $5.12 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $4.32 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $4.64 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $4.55 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $18.63 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $5.50 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $4.53 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $21.36 EPS.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $4.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.45 by ($0.37). UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 5.04% and a return on equity of 23.32%. The company had revenue of $111.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $111.75 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $6.80 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 12.9% on a year-over-year basis.

Several other research analysts have also commented on UNH. Baird R W lowered UnitedHealth Group from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 31st. Oppenheimer reduced their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $400.00 to $325.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $355.00 to $286.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. HSBC reissued a “reduce” rating and set a $270.00 price target (down previously from $490.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Wednesday, May 21st. Finally, Piper Sandler decreased their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $353.00 to $317.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and fifteen have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $366.52.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Down 0.0%

UNH opened at $271.79 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $246.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 0.85. UnitedHealth Group has a one year low of $234.60 and a one year high of $630.73. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $288.90 and its 200-day simple moving average is $399.47.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Marshall & Sterling Wealth Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Bayforest Capital Ltd increased its position in UnitedHealth Group by 685.7% during the first quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd now owns 55 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. Sagard Holdings Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Islay Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $31,000. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity at UnitedHealth Group

In related news, CEO Patrick Hugh Conway sold 589 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $305.00, for a total transaction of $179,645.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 10,398 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,171,390. The trade was a 5.36% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.28% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 23rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 15th will be paid a dividend of $2.21 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 15th. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.3%. UnitedHealth Group’s payout ratio is 38.30%.

UnitedHealth Group Company Profile

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.