New York State Common Retirement Fund Sells 13,174 Shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated $UNH

New York State Common Retirement Fund lessened its stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,190,465 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock after selling 13,174 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group accounts for about 0.5% of New York State Common Retirement Fund’s portfolio, making the stock its 26th largest position. New York State Common Retirement Fund owned 0.13% of UnitedHealth Group worth $411,068,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 176.2% during the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 44,249 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $22,384,000 after purchasing an additional 28,231 shares in the last quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC boosted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 137.1% during the fourth quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 4,019 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $2,033,000 after purchasing an additional 2,324 shares in the last quarter. CMT Capital Markets Trading GmbH bought a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter worth about $340,000. Wetzel Investment Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 14.6% in the 2nd quarter. Wetzel Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 799 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $249,000 after buying an additional 102 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Liberty Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 5.2% in the second quarter. Liberty Capital Management Inc. now owns 14,780 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $4,611,000 after acquiring an additional 726 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.86% of the company’s stock.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Up 4.0%

UnitedHealth Group stock opened at $294.08 on Thursday. 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 cap of $266.39 billion, a PE ratio of 15.35, a P/E/G ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 0.42. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $331.78 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $323.60. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12 month low of $234.60 and a 12 month high of $606.36.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $2.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.09 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $113.22 billion for 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 firm’s quarterly revenue was up 12.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $6.81 earnings per share. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.750- EPS. Analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 8th were given a dividend of $2.21 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 8th. This represents a $8.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.0%. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 46.14%.

UnitedHealth Group News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 beat on EPS and margin commentary — UnitedHealth reported Q4 EPS of $2.11, slightly above consensus, and highlighted Optum Rx strength and margin initiatives that management says will support profitability. This gives some near-term earnings credibility despite revenue softness. MarketBeat Q4 coverage
• Positive Sentiment: Capital returns remain a cushion — analysts and commentators note UNH’s dividend and ongoing buybacks (share-count reduction planned) support the equity’s floor and long-term shareholder returns. That underpins buy-the-dip arguments. MarketBeat: Buying opportunity
• Neutral Sentiment: Allegations of timely politician sales are drawing attention — reports show some lawmakers sold UNH shares before the plunge; this is a political/PR risk but not a fundamental earnings driver. Watch regulatory/oversight headlines. Finbold: Politician sales
• Negative Sentiment: Weak 2026 guidance — management guided to roughly $439B in 2026 revenue (down from 2025), signaling a rare revenue contraction tied to “right-sizing” and lower reimbursement expectations; this is the principal reason investors stampeded out. Investopedia: Guidance and drivers
• Negative Sentiment: CMS/Medicare payment proposal (Trump administration) — a much-smaller-than-expected proposed increase to Medicare Advantage payments materially reduces forward reimbursement assumptions for insurers and magnified UNH’s guidance concerns. That policy news triggered the sector sell-off. Benzinga: Medicare rates reaction
• Negative Sentiment: Analysts cut price targets — multiple firms trimmed 12–30% off prior targets (Jefferies, Leerink, Oppenheimer, RBC, UBS), keeping buy/outperform ratings but lowering upside expectations — adds short-term selling pressure. TickerReport / Benzinga aggregation
• Negative Sentiment: Large one-day market cap hit and volatility — UNH lost tens of billions in market value and dragged the Dow lower; that amplifies risk aversion and forces some funds to trim exposure. InsiderMonkey: Market impact

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on UNH. Piper Sandler reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Tuesday. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. They set a “buy” rating and a $406.00 price objective on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Wednesday. Barclays raised their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $386.00 to $391.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, January 5th. Finally, TD Cowen increased their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $335.00 to $338.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, October 30th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $380.67.

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.