UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) to Issue Quarterly Dividend of $2.21 on March 17th

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) announced a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, February 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 9th will be paid a dividend of 2.21 per share by the healthcare conglomerate on Tuesday, March 17th. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 9th.

UnitedHealth Group has raised its dividend payment by an average of 0.1%annually over the last three years and has increased its dividend annually for the last 15 consecutive years. UnitedHealth Group has a payout ratio of 33.7% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Research analysts expect UnitedHealth Group to earn $33.22 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $8.84 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 26.6%.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of UNH stock traded up $4.37 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $288.57. 2,399,857 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 10,241,305. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 0.79 and a quick ratio of 0.82. UnitedHealth Group has a 1 year low of $234.60 and a 1 year high of $606.36. The company has a market cap of $261.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 0.41. The company’s 50 day moving average is $313.51 and its two-hundred day moving average is $325.44.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $2.11 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.09 by $0.02. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 2.69% and a return on equity of 14.79%. The firm had revenue of $113.73 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $113.38 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $6.81 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 12.3% on a year-over-year basis. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.750- EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group will post 29.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter worth about $4,376,167,000. Capital Research Global Investors raised its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 126.9% during the 3rd quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 13,042,049 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $4,503,419,000 after purchasing an additional 7,293,009 shares during the period. Berkshire Hathaway Inc acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $1,572,193,000. Dodge & Cox boosted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 117.7% during the second quarter. Dodge & Cox now owns 8,750,560 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $2,729,912,000 after acquiring an additional 4,730,192 shares during the period. Finally, Capital World Investors increased its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 18.8% in the 3rd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 21,766,922 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $7,516,107,000 after acquiring an additional 3,439,182 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.