UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Updates FY 2026 Earnings Guidance

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) issued an update on its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Tuesday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 17.750- for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 17.700. The company issued revenue guidance of $439.0 billion-, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $456.6 billion.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Up 4.0%

UnitedHealth Group stock opened at $294.08 on Thursday. UnitedHealth Group has a 12 month low of $234.60 and a 12 month high of $606.36. 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 business’s fifty day simple moving average is $331.78 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $323.60. The company has a market capitalization of $266.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 0.42.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $2.11 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.09 by $0.02. The company 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%. UnitedHealth Group’s revenue for the quarter was up 12.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $6.81 EPS. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.750- EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on UNH shares. Bank of America increased their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $350.00 to $390.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. UBS Group reduced their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $430.00 to $410.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. KeyCorp reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Wednesday. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada lowered their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $408.00 to $361.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $380.67.

More UnitedHealth Group News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Several major firms trimmed price targets but kept bullish ratings (buy/outperform), which helps stem the panic and supports a bounce as investors consider the pullback a buying opportunity. Analyst target changes
• Positive Sentiment: Media and retail-investor coverage framing the sell-off as a buy-the-dip moment (contrarian pieces and “bounce back” stories) is drawing short-term buying interest. Why UnitedHealth Group Stock Just Bounced Back
• Neutral Sentiment: Q4 results: UNH slightly beat EPS (driven by Optum Rx and other segments) but missed revenue by a small margin; management reiterated turnaround actions and provided FY2026 EPS guidance. This mixed fundamental print is keeping longer?term investors evaluating the recovery timeline. Company press release
• Neutral Sentiment: Company guidance and commentary: Reuters and others note management expects 2026 adjusted profit roughly in line with or slightly above estimates while pursuing cost controls — a mixed signal for revenue growth vs. margin improvement. Reuters profit outlook
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory shock: a Trump administration/CMS proposal to keep Medicare Advantage payments much lower than expected triggered the initial sharp sell-off — this directly pressures UNH’s Medicare business and drove the large multi?day decline. Medicare rates story
• Negative Sentiment: Soft 2026 revenue guidance and one?time charges: management flagged a roughly 2% revenue decline for 2026 (first in decades) and absorbed a ~$1.6B restructuring hit, which undermines near?term earnings power and prompted analyst target cuts. Forbes analysis
• Negative Sentiment: Political scrutiny / insider trades: reports that some politicians sold UNH ahead of the crash have added reputational and regulatory uncertainty, intensifying the sell pressure while the story unfolds. Politician trades

Institutional Investors Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of UNH. Imprint Wealth LLC bought a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the third quarter worth about $33,000. Riggs Asset Managment Co. Inc. increased its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 69.4% during the second quarter. Riggs Asset Managment Co. Inc. now owns 105 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 43 shares in the last quarter. Turning Point Benefit Group Inc. acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $41,000. Mpwm Advisory Solutions LLC grew its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1,090.9% during the third quarter. Mpwm Advisory Solutions LLC now owns 131 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $45,000 after acquiring an additional 120 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Binnacle Investments Inc increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 185.8% during the 2nd quarter. Binnacle Investments Inc now owns 383 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $119,000 after purchasing an additional 249 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.86% of the company’s stock.

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.