Q4 EPS Estimates for UnitedHealth Group Decreased by KeyCorp

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) – Investment analysts at KeyCorp lowered their Q4 2024 EPS estimates for shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note issued on Monday, January 6th. KeyCorp analyst M. Gillmor now forecasts that the healthcare conglomerate will earn $6.77 per share for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $6.93. KeyCorp has a “Strong-Buy” rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for UnitedHealth Group’s current full-year earnings is $27.61 per share. KeyCorp also issued estimates for UnitedHealth Group’s Q1 2025 earnings at $7.50 EPS, Q2 2025 earnings at $7.37 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $7.60 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $7.35 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $29.83 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $34.05 EPS.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of UnitedHealth Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, December 9th. Barclays increased their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $603.00 to $655.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. Stephens upped their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $605.00 to $675.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. Piper Sandler dropped their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $605.00 to $600.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 2nd. Finally, Hsbc Global Res cut shares of UnitedHealth Group from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $627.58.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

Shares of UnitedHealth Group stock opened at $524.14 on Thursday. UnitedHealth Group has a twelve month low of $436.38 and a twelve month high of $630.73. The firm has a market cap of $482.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 0.62. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $557.00 and its 200-day simple moving average is $561.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 0.91.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 15th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.15 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.00 by $0.15. The company had revenue of $100.82 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $99.14 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.37% and a net margin of 3.63%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $6.56 EPS.

Institutional Trading of UnitedHealth Group

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. MGO One Seven LLC increased its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 6.7% during the 2nd quarter. MGO One Seven LLC now owns 9,706 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $4,943,000 after purchasing an additional 613 shares during the last quarter. Brasada Capital Management LP grew its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 10.4% in the 2nd quarter. Brasada Capital Management LP now owns 5,680 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $2,865,000 after acquiring an additional 535 shares during the period. Angeles Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 19.5% in the 2nd quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,606 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $1,327,000 after purchasing an additional 426 shares during the period. Studio Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 6.6% during the second quarter. Studio Investment Management LLC now owns 8,045 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $4,097,000 after purchasing an additional 497 shares during the period. Finally, Biltmore Family Office LLC acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter valued at approximately $284,000. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 9th were paid a $2.10 dividend. This represents a $8.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.60%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 9th. UnitedHealth Group’s payout ratio is 54.72%.

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.