FY2024 Earnings Estimate for UNH Issued By Leerink Partnrs

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) – Investment analysts at Leerink Partnrs dropped their FY2024 earnings estimates for shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note issued to investors on Monday, January 13th. Leerink Partnrs analyst W. Mayo now anticipates that the healthcare conglomerate will post earnings per share of $27.47 for the year, down from their previous forecast of $27.57. The consensus estimate for UnitedHealth Group’s current full-year earnings is $27.60 per share. Leerink Partnrs also issued estimates for UnitedHealth Group’s Q4 2024 earnings at $6.55 EPS, Q1 2025 earnings at $7.34 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $7.27 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $29.73 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $8.42 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $8.52 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $8.56 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $8.18 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $33.69 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $38.29 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $43.97 EPS.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.81 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.74 by $0.07. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 3.63% and a return on equity of 26.37%. The firm had revenue of $100.81 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $101.60 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $5.83 EPS. UnitedHealth Group’s revenue was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis.

A number of other research firms have also issued reports on UNH. Oppenheimer raised their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $610.00 to $640.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, December 6th. TD Cowen lifted their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $601.00 to $609.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, October 18th. KeyCorp started coverage on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Friday, October 11th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $675.00 target price for the company. Bank of America cut their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $675.00 to $650.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of UnitedHealth Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have given a buy rating and three have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $626.79.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

UNH opened at $511.02 on Wednesday. UnitedHealth Group has a 12-month low of $436.38 and a 12-month high of $630.73. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The firm has a market capitalization of $470.28 billion, a PE ratio of 33.29, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.62. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $553.38 and a two-hundred day moving average of $562.98.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 9th were paid a dividend of $2.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 9th. This represents a $8.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.64%. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 54.72%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Kathleen S. Wright Associates Inc. acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $27,000. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates boosted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 152.4% during the 3rd quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 53 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 32 shares during the last quarter. West Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $32,000. RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the 3rd quarter valued at about $37,000. Finally, Quarry LP raised its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 132.1% in the 2nd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 65 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 37 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.86% of the company’s stock.

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.