LaSalle St. Investment Advisors LLC Takes $1.81 Million Position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated $UNH

LaSalle St. Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund purchased 4,364 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock, valued at approximately $1,814,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Sarver Vrooman Wealth Advisors purchased a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Anfield Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 220.0% during the fourth quarter. Anfield Capital Management LLC now owns 80 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 55 shares during the period. Joseph Group Capital Management bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Nalls Sherbakoff Group LLC bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Finally, Lifetime Wealth Management P.C. bought a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. 87.86% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNH opened at $390.94 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $413.99 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $356.45. The company has a quick ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $350.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.16, a PEG ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 0.62. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 52 week low of $255.96 and a 52 week high of $461.62.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.38 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.94 by $1.44. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 3.14% and a return on equity of 16.53%. The firm had revenue of $112.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $110.81 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $4.08 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up .4% compared to the same quarter last year. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 19.500-20.000 EPS. On average, analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 19.81 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 22nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 14th will be given a dividend of $2.32 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 14th. This represents a $9.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. UnitedHealth Group’s payout ratio is currently 59.72%.

Insider Transactions at UnitedHealth Group

In other news, CEO Patrick Hugh Conway sold 500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $410.00, for a total value of $205,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 16,497 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,763,770. This trade represents a 2.94% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.19% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

UnitedHealth Group News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: UnitedHealth is reportedly prioritizing Medicare Advantage profitability over rapid membership growth by tightening benefits, improving pricing and controlling costs. The strategy could support stronger margins and more sustainable earnings, even if enrollment growth moderates. Is UnitedHealth Finding a Better Path to Medicare Advantage Growth?
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research added UNH to its Rank #1, or “Strong Buy,” lists for overall stocks, value stocks and income stocks. The repeated favorable rankings may reinforce investor confidence in the shares. New Strong Buy Stocks for August 21st
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts raised several forward EPS estimates, including Q1 2028 to $7.36 from $6.78 and Q2 2028 to $7.19 from $5.84. A separate report also noted an increase in the Q1 EPS estimate, while Zacks maintained a Strong Buy rating. Q1 EPS Estimate for UnitedHealth Group Increased by Analyst
• Neutral Sentiment: Forecast revisions were mixed: Q3 2027 EPS was reduced to $4.74 from $4.81 and Q4 2027 to $4.07 from $4.12, partially offsetting the increases for 2028.
• Negative Sentiment: Aon expects U.S. employer health-care costs to rise 9.5% in 2027. Persistent medical-cost inflation could pressure insurers’ margins and increase pricing, benefit and utilization-management challenges for UnitedHealth. AON Sees No Relief From Health-Cost Inflation

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. HC Wainwright set a $492.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Wednesday, May 27th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. HSBC boosted their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $300.00 to $380.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, July 6th. Barclays lifted their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $429.00 to $441.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, July 20th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $397.00 to $485.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, July 13th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have given a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $455.92.

About UnitedHealth Group

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.