Empyrean Capital Partners LP Takes Position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated $UNH

Empyrean Capital Partners LP acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor acquired 193,000 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock, valued at approximately $63,711,000. UnitedHealth Group makes up about 2.2% of Empyrean Capital Partners LP’s holdings, making the stock its 15th biggest holding.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in UNH. Sarver Vrooman Wealth Advisors purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Beacon Financial Strategies CORP purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. Anfield Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 220.0% in the fourth quarter. Anfield Capital Management LLC now owns 80 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares during the last quarter. Joseph Group Capital Management purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter valued at $27,000. Finally, Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 69.4% in the third quarter. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC now owns 83 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 34 shares during the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Down 2.0%

UNH opened at $399.33 on Thursday. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a twelve month low of $234.60 and a twelve month high of $415.98. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $369.93 and a 200 day moving average price of $328.55. The company has a market cap of $362.65 billion, a PE ratio of 30.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 0.64.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 21st. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.76 by $0.47. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 2.68% and a return on equity of 14.65%. The firm had revenue of $111.65 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $109.84 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $7.20 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 18.250- EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 18.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 23rd. Investors of record on Monday, June 15th will be given a dividend of $2.32 per share. This is a boost from UnitedHealth Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $2.21. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 15th. This represents a $9.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. UnitedHealth Group’s payout ratio is currently 70.09%.

Key Headlines Impacting UnitedHealth Group

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

• Positive Sentiment: Leerink Partners raised its price target on UnitedHealth Group to $462 from $400 and reiterated an outperform rating, citing improved margin expectations at Optum Health and signaling confidence in the company’s recovery efforts. Leerink Raises UnitedHealth PT
• Positive Sentiment: Wall Street commentary has grown more constructive on UnitedHealth’s turnaround, with analysts pointing to better long-term profitability at its Optum Health unit as a reason the stock could recover further. UnitedHealth Stock Gets a Target Price Increase
• Neutral Sentiment: Separate coverage noted that hedge funds have continued to buy UnitedHealth, suggesting institutional interest remains solid, though this is not a direct catalyst by itself. Hedge Funds Bought UnitedHealth
• Neutral Sentiment: One investor-letter item said Sustainable Growth Advisers sold its stake in UNH, but the article provided limited detail on the reason, so the stock impact is unclear. SGA Sold UnitedHealth Stake
• Negative Sentiment: Despite the bullish analyst note, UNH also traded lower than the broader market in the latest session, reflecting that investors are still cautious about the pace and durability of the turnaround. UnitedHealth Fell More Than Broader Market

Insider Buying and Selling

In other UnitedHealth Group news, CEO Patrick Hugh Conway sold 800 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $355.00, for a total value of $284,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 17,805 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,320,775. This trade represents a 4.30% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have commented on UNH shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $420.00 to $466.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, June 8th. Sanford C. Bernstein increased their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $444.00 to $492.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 27th. Oppenheimer increased their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $385.00 to $405.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 22nd. HC Wainwright set a $492.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Wednesday, May 27th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Thursday, June 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have given a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $409.75.

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.