Q1 EPS Estimate for UnitedHealth Group Lowered by Analyst

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) – Stock analysts at Leerink Partnrs lowered their Q1 2025 earnings per share estimates for shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, January 16th. Leerink Partnrs analyst W. Mayo now forecasts that the healthcare conglomerate will post earnings of $7.30 per share for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $7.34. 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 Q2 2025 earnings at $7.53 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $7.64 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $7.22 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $29.69 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $8.38 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $8.55 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $8.60 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $8.13 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $38.25 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $43.57 EPS.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.74 by $0.07. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.37% and a net margin of 3.63%. The company had revenue of $100.81 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $101.60 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $5.83 EPS. UnitedHealth Group’s revenue was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. TD Cowen upped their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $601.00 to $609.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, October 18th. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $615.00 to $610.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Piper Sandler cut their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $605.00 to $600.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 2nd. Stephens upped their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $605.00 to $675.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Finally, Bank of America cut their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $675.00 to $650.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $627.74.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Down 0.1 %

UNH stock opened at $510.03 on Monday. UnitedHealth Group has a fifty-two week low of $436.38 and a fifty-two week high of $630.73. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $549.37 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $563.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 0.91. The company has a market capitalization of $469.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.62.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th were paid a $2.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 9th. This represents a $8.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.65%. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 54.19%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Kathleen S. Wright Associates Inc. purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the 3rd quarter worth $27,000. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 152.4% in the 3rd quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 53 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 32 shares in the last quarter. West Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the 3rd quarter worth $32,000. Quarry LP increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 132.1% in the 2nd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 65 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 37 shares in the last quarter. Finally, RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the 3rd quarter worth $37,000. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

UnitedHealth Group Company Profile

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.