Brokerages Set UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) PT at $456.56

Shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) have been given a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the twenty-seven brokerages that are covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $456.56.

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $460.00 to $490.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, July 17th. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $463.00 to $478.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, July 17th. Oppenheimer raised their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $420.00 to $500.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, July 17th. Truist Financial increased their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $440.00 to $480.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 14th. Finally, HC Wainwright set a $492.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Wednesday, May 27th.

UnitedHealth Group News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Earnings and guidance remain supportive. UnitedHealth reported second-quarter adjusted EPS of $6.38, well above the $4.94 consensus estimate, while revenue reached approximately $112 billion. Management raised its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $19.50–$20.00, reinforcing expectations for a substantial earnings recovery. Can UNH Stock Keep Growing Earnings While Its Sales Stall?
• Positive Sentiment: Margin recovery could drive further upside. Analysts highlighted improving margins in UnitedHealthcare and Optum Health, supported by cost controls, contract resets and technology-related efficiencies. Continued operating improvements could support earnings growth through 2027 and 2028. UnitedHealth: Margin Recovery And Earnings Growth Support Further Upside
• Positive Sentiment: Some analysts have raised earnings expectations. Erste Group Bank brokers increased their estimates for UNH, reflecting greater confidence in the company’s improving financial performance. Erste Group Bank Brokers Increase Earnings Estimates for UNH
• Neutral Sentiment: Investors are looking ahead to the next earnings report. UnitedHealth is expected to report results in October, making the upcoming release a potential catalyst for the stock and a test of whether the margin recovery is continuing. Should You Buy UnitedHealth Group Stock Before Oct. 13?
• Negative Sentiment: Revenue growth and medical-cost risk are weighing on sentiment. Revenue has nearly stalled, leaving the earnings recovery increasingly dependent on controlling members’ medical expenses—an outcome UnitedHealth can only partly influence. The combination of limited sales growth and uncertainty over utilization trends likely explains the recent pressure on UNH shares. Can UNH Stock Keep Growing Earnings While Its Sales Stall?

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

Shares of UNH stock opened at $372.81 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 0.78. The firm has a market cap of $334.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.99, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.61. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $401.67 and its 200-day moving average price is $372.70. UnitedHealth Group has a fifty-two week low of $255.96 and a fifty-two week high of $461.62.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.38 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.94 by $1.44. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 3.14% and a return on equity of 16.53%. The business had revenue of $112.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $110.81 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $4.08 earnings per share. 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, equities research analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group will post 19.85 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 22nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 14th were paid a dividend of $2.32 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 14th. This represents a $9.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.5%. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 59.72%.

Insider Buying and Selling at UnitedHealth Group

In related news, CEO Patrick Conway sold 1,169 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $390.00, for a total value of $455,910.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 15,328 shares in the company, valued at $5,977,920. This represents a 7.09% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.19% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of UNH. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 4.6% during the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 76,863,061 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $31,946,594,000 after buying an additional 3,395,530 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 0.7% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 45,633,267 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $18,966,555,000 after purchasing an additional 301,081 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors raised its position in UnitedHealth Group by 3.8% in the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 22,591,042 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $7,457,723,000 after buying an additional 824,120 shares during the last quarter. Capital International Investors lifted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 6.6% during the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 18,655,111 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $6,158,734,000 after buying an additional 1,155,162 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 6.1% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 10,704,994 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $4,449,317,000 after purchasing an additional 616,723 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 87.86% of the company’s stock.

UnitedHealth Group Company Profile

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is a diversified health care and well-being company headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Its operations are organized primarily through two businesses: UnitedHealthcare, which provides health benefit plans and services, and Optum, which delivers health care services, technology, pharmacy care and data-driven solutions.

UnitedHealthcare serves individuals, employers, government programs and other organizations through products that include employer-sponsored health plans, individual and family coverage, Medicare and Medicaid plans, dental and vision benefits, and related administrative services.