Results
11 UnitedHealth Group Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results • Third Quarter 2026 Revenues of $112.7 Billion; Earnings from Operations of $6.6 Billion • Earnings of $4.56 Per Share and Adjusted Earnings of $4.69 Per Share • Cash Flows from Operations Were $5.1 Billion, or 1.2x Net Income • Updated Full Year 2026 Earnings Outlook to At Least $19.50 Per Share; Adjusted Earnings of At Least $20.50 Per Share To view this information in a different format, including graphics, published on our website, click here: https://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/content/dam/UHG/PDF/investors/2026/unh-reports-third-quarter-2026-results.pdf (October 13, 2026) UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) today reported third quarter 2026 results and raised guidance for full year 2026.Guidance raised
“Our third quarter results reflect the discipline and execution our teams are bringing to every part of our business, as we continue evolving UnitedHealth Group to deliver a simpler, more supportive experience for patients and the clinicians who care for them,” said Stephen Hemsley, chief executive officer of UnitedHealth Group.
The company now expects full year 2026 adjusted net earnings of at least $20.50 per share, incorporating experience through the third quarter 2026.
Consolidated revenues for the third quarter 2026 were $112.7 billion and earnings from operations were $6.6 billion, with a net margin of 3.6%.
Cash flows from operations were $5.1 billion, or 1.2x net income, and the debt-to-capital ratio was 41.7% as of September 30, 2026.
UnitedHealth Group’s medical cost ratio was 88.4% for the third quarter 2026, reflecting both medical cost management and pricing discipline, as well as benefit design changes and care delivery enhancements focused on affordability and integrated value-based care.
The operating cost ratio of 12.8% in the third quarter 2026 compared to 13.5% in the third quarter 2025, and reflects ongoing investments to modernize operations and streamline administrative processes.
5Third Quarter 2026 Key Performance Metrics • Third quarter 2026 adjusted net earnings were $4.69 per share. • The medical care ratio was 88.4%, reflecting improved medical cost management, benefit and pricing alignment and care delivery enhancements.
4MCR was impacted by $610 million of net favorable prior period reserve development related to 2026 dates of service. • The operating cost ratio of 12.8% reflected ongoing investments in operations, consumer and clinician experiences, operational agentification, integrated value-based care and community support. • UnitedHealthcare served 48.3 million consumers, generating revenues of $86.3 billion and earnings of $2.8 billion. • Optum cared for over 120 million patients and consumers and drove revenues of $66.9 billion and earnings of $3.7 billion.
Management commentary
2 Continuing to Address America’s Healthcare Challenges with Sustainable Solutions UnitedHealth Group is committed to addressing the issues that make healthcare challenging for the people and clinicians we serve.
Continued actions the company has taken to address these challenges include the below, with further commitments expected in 2027.
United Health Foundation The United Health Foundation has been refreshed and significantly funded, expanding its priorities to include rural health, maternal and children’s health and behavioral health, among others. • Committed $1 billion to the United Health Foundation to support key initiatives, including improving rural healthcare, strengthening maternal and children’s health and addressing behavioral health challenges.
Affordability, Rural Care and Benefits The company is taking steps to increase support and access while decreasing costs for communities served. • Committed to voluntarily eliminating and rebating profits from individual Affordable Care Act coverage offerings in 2026, returning this money directly to approximately 1 million ACA members as Congress works toward longer-term solutions to strengthen the stability and affordability of these plans. • Supporting 1,500 rural hospitals and their associated clinicians by accelerating payments, cutting reimbursement timelines in half and exempting these clinicians from most prior approval requirements. • Announced nationwide coverage expansion for doula care with employer-sponsored plans, with more than 7 million members eligible for coverage by January 2027. • Expanded access to child and family behavioral health coaching, with ~13 million members now eligible to access the coaching program.
Approval Reform The company is removing prior approval requirements, standardizing approval processes across the industry, reducing paperwork requirements and increasing transparency into the approval process, making it quicker and simpler for clinicians to treat patients. • Eliminating 30% of current prior approval volume by the end of 2026. • Eliminating nearly two-thirds of prior approval requirements for pediatric care, including waivers for certain procedures performed at leading pediatric hospitals by the end of 2026. • Leading an industrywide effort to standardize prior approval requirements for electronic submissions, with more than 70% of UnitedHealthcare prior approvals expected to be included by the end of 2026. • Publicly reporting prior approval metrics to help clinicians and members better understand the process and our performance. • Expanding eligibility for UnitedHealthcare’s Gold Card status – exempting high-performing clinicians from routine approval requirements entirely – and removing requirements for home health services, eliminating nearly 10% of total UnitedHealthcare prior approval volume.
Drug Affordability To combat high prescription drug costs, the company is lowering out-of-pocket costs for patients and bringing greater transparency to pharmacy benefits, setting a new standard for the industry. • Launched the industry’s first fully transparent, fee-based pharmacy care model to bring greater clarity, predictability and affordability by decoupling PBM pricing from drug list prices and prescription volume, aligning incentives with patients and plan sponsors and introducing digital tools that allow consumers to view and compare medication costs upfront. • Committed to 100% pass-through of manufacturer drug rebate discounts to clients by January 1, 2028. • Eliminated 33% of drug reauthorizations – representing 11% of pharmacy prior approvals – for a list of nearly 270 chronic condition medications. • Increased payments to independent and community physicians for brand name drugs, benefiting approximately 2,300 independent and community pharmacies.
Governance, Oversight and Transparency Making the health system work better for everyone starts with trust, transparency and accountability.
The company is strengthening that foundation by deepening oversight and renewing its leadership culture. • Refreshed leadership roles and re-energizing the company’s culture and commitment to mission. • Created a new Public Responsibility Committee for the Board of Directors, named a new Lead Independent Director and new committee chairs and added a new independent director. • Published comprehensive reviews of its business practices, which included risk assessment operations, care services management and prescription drug discounts, and implemented all recommended improvements from the reviews. • Released an independent review of the HouseCalls program that showed the sampled diagnoses were overwhelmingly supported by medical records, with an error rate nearly three times lower than the rate reported by recent Federal CMS audits.
Results
83 UnitedHealth Group Third Quarter 2026 Results Quarterly Financial Performance Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 September 30, 2025 June 30, 2026 Revenues $112.7 billion $113.2 billion $112.0 billion Earnings from Operations $6.6 billion $4.3 billion $8.0 billion Net Margin 3.6% 2.1% 4.9% • UnitedHealth Group’s third quarter 2026 revenues were $112.7 billion compared to $113.2 billion in the third quarter 2025. • Third quarter 2026 earnings from operations of $6.6 billion compared to $4.3 billion in the year ago quarter, driven by disciplined execution across both UnitedHealthcare and Optum. • The third quarter 2026 medical care ratio was 88.4% compared to 89.9% in the third quarter 2025.
The year-over-year decrease was driven by medical cost management initiatives, benefit design changes and pricing discipline, as well as care delivery enhancements focused on affordability and integrated value-based care.
Net medical reserve development was $610 million in the quarter related to 2026 dates of service. • Days claims payable were 47.0 compared to 47.0 in the second quarter 2026 and 46.2 in the third quarter 2025.
Days sales outstanding of 16.9 compared to 17.7 in the second quarter 2026 and 18.6 in the year ago quarter. • The third quarter 2026 operating cost ratio was 12.8% compared to 13.5% in the third quarter 2025, reflecting realized operating efficiencies partially offset by accelerating investments in technology, processes and people to improve care delivery and consumer and clinician experiences. • Cash flows from operations were $5.1 billion, or 1.2 times net income. • Debt-to-capital ratio was 41.7% as of September 30, 2026, compared to 41.2% in the second quarter 2026.
The company continues to target a long-term debt-to-capital ratio of approximately 40.0% by year-end. • The company repurchased $5.0 billion of its common stock and paid $6.2 billion in dividends year-to-date.Guidance reaffirmed
4 UnitedHealthcare Third Quarter 2026 Results UnitedHealthcare provides healthcare benefits to individuals and employers, as well as Government Program beneficiaries.
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to improving the value customers and consumers receive by improving health and wellness, enhancing the quality of care received, simplifying the healthcare experience and advancing access and affordability by reducing the total cost of care.
Quarterly Financial Performance Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 September 30, 2025 June 30, 2026 Revenues $86.3 billion $87.1 billion $86.0 billion Earnings from Operations $2.8 billion $1.8 billion $3.9 billion Operating Margin 3.3% 2.1% 4.6% UnitedHealthcare • UnitedHealthcare is committed to improving the consumer and clinician experience by expanding access to care and digital support services, simplifying and reducing prior approvals and deepening support for the communities it serves. • UnitedHealthcare third quarter 2026 revenues of $86.3 billion compared to $87.1 billion in the third quarter 2025.
UnitedHealthcare served 48.3 million people in the third quarter 2026. • UnitedHealthcare’s third quarter 2026 earnings from operations were $2.8 billion and operating margin was 3.3% compared to $1.8 billion and 2.1% in the third quarter 2025.
The year-over-year increase was driven by benefit changes and pricing discipline, combined with medical and operating cost management.
UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual • UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual third quarter 2026 revenues were $20.2 billion compared to $19.9 billion in the third quarter 2025. • The number of people served contracted by 165,000 in the third quarter 2026 due to employer attrition.
6UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement • UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement third quarter 2026 revenues were $42.4 billion compared to $43.4 billion in the third quarter 2025 due to changes in membership and product mix. • The 2027 Medicare Advantage Stars results of at least 69% of members in 4+ Star plans were in line with expectations and reflect continued investments in quality and focus on execution.
Performance demonstrates excellence across key quality measures, including improvement in 11 out of 12 HEDIS measures and 4 out of 4 Pharmacy measures. • Seniors served through Medicare Advantage, including programs serving complex populations included in Medicaid, have contracted by 935,000 since year-end 2025.
5 UnitedHealthcare Community & State • UnitedHealthcare Community & State third quarter 2026 revenues were $23.7 billion compared to $23.8 billion in the third quarter 2025. • People served contracted by 85,000 in the third quarter 2026 due to ongoing Medicaid eligibility changes.
6 Optum Third Quarter 2026 Results The Optum businesses serve participants throughout healthcare, including payers, clinicians and health systems, employers, governments, life sciences companies and consumers.
Using market-leading information, analytics and technology to yield clinical insights, Optum helps improve overall health system performance by optimizing care quality, reducing care costs and improving the consumer and clinician experience.
3Quarterly Financial Performance Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 September 30, 2025 June 30, 2026 Revenues $66.9 billion $69.2 billion $65.7 billion Earnings from Operations $3.7 billion $2.5 billion $4.0 billion Operating Margin 5.6% 3.6% 6.2% Optum Health • Optum Health continues to progress in operational enhancements that expand patient access to integrated, quality care resources while modernizing the care experience to allow for greater patient satisfaction and a more engaged clinician experience. • Optum Health’s third quarter 2026 revenues of $22.9 billion decreased 10% year-over-year as a result of fewer value-based care patients served in markets where Optum lacked sufficient value-based care presence to sustain its clinicians. • Third quarter 2026 earnings from operations were $735 million and operating margin was 3.2%, compared to $41 million and 0.2% in the third quarter 2025.
The year-over-year increase was driven by strengthened operational discipline and medical cost management initiatives across its value-based care markets.
7Optum Insight • Optum Insight continues to develop and bring AI-enabled solutions to market that enhance services and reduce administrative burden across the health system, including capabilities that streamline clinical documentation and improve payment accuracy and speed, returning more time to clinicians for care. • Optum Insight reported third quarter 2026 revenues of $5.5 billion, an increase of 3% year-over-year. • Third quarter 2026 earnings from operations were $1.3 billion compared to $920 million in the third quarter 2025.
The year-over-year improvement was driven by enhanced product offerings and operational efficiencies.
2Optum Rx • Optum Rx continues to advance transparent pharmacy pricing while broadening the clinically integrated pharmacy services that patients depend on. • Optum Rx’s third quarter 2026 revenues were $39.9 billion compared to $39.7 billion in the third quarter 2025. • Earnings from operations for the third quarter 2026 were $1.7 billion compared to $1.5 billion in the third quarter 2025, reflecting continued adoption of biosimilars and operational improvements.
Adjusted scripts were 393 million compared to 414 million in the year ago quarter due to membership declines within UnitedHealthcare and other customers.
UNITEDHEALTH GROUP CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in millions, except per share data; unaudited) Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2026 2025 2026 2025 Revenues Premiums........................................................................................................................... $87,078 $88,979 $261,595 $263,418 Products .............................................................................................................................
14,293 13,296 41,378 39,896 Services .............................................................................................................................
10,246 9,754 30,043 27,765 Investment and other income .........................................................................................
1,077 1,132 3,431 3,273 Total revenues .............................................................................................................
112,694 113,161 336,447 334,352 Operating costs Medical costs ....................................................................................................................
76,982 79,958 225,829 231,954 Operating costs.................................................................................................................
14,369 15,223 44,027 42,595 Cost of products sold .......................................................................................................
13,707 12,566 39,905 37,975 Depreciation and amortization .......................................................................................
1,073 1,099 3,142 3,244 Total operating costs ..................................................................................................
106,131 108,846 312,903 315,768 Earnings from operations ............................................................................................
6,563 4,315 23,544 18,584 Interest expense ...............................................................................................................
(963) (1,003) (2,880) (3,028) Loss on sale of subsidiary and subsidiaries held for sale ..........................................
(76) (83) (209) (139) Earnings before income taxes ....................................................................................
5,524 3,229 20,455 15,417 Provision for income taxes ..............................................................................................
(1,224) (686) (4,004) (2,828) Net earnings ...................................................................................................................
4,300 2,543 16,451 12,589 Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests .........................................................
(190) (195) (577) (543) Net earnings attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders ...... $4,110 $2,348 $15,874 $12,046 Diluted earnings per share attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders (a) ...................................................................................................... $4.56 $2.59 $17.50 $13.21 Adjusted earnings per share attributable to UnitedHealth Group common shareholders (b) ...................................................................................................... $4.69 $2.92 $18.30 $14.22 Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding ............................................
902 908 906 912 (a) The calculation of diluted earnings per share includes an immaterial reduction to the numerator related to forward share repurchase contracts for the nine months ended September 30, 2026.
(b) See page 15 for a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures.
UNITEDHEALTH GROUP CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in millions; unaudited) September 30, 2026 December 31, 2025 Assets Cash and short-term investments ..................................................................................................................................................... $28,549 $28,121 Accounts receivable, net ....................................................................................................................................................................
20,543 23,018 Other current assets ............................................................................................................................................................................
36,503 39,443 Total current assets ...................................................................................................................................................................
85,595 90,582 Long-term investments .......................................................................................................................................................................
58,064 54,251 Other long-term assets .......................................................................................................................................................................
169,123 164,748 Total assets .................................................................................................................................................................................... $312,782 $309,581 Liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity Medical costs payable ......................................................................................................................................................................... $39,352 $39,337 Short-term borrowings and current maturities of long-term debt .................................................................................................
5,617 6,069 Other current liabilities ........................................................................................................................................................................
70,866 69,491 Total current liabilities ...............................................................................................................................................................
115,835 114,897 Long-term debt, less current maturities ............................................................................................................................................
68,714 72,320 Other long-term liabilities ....................................................................................................................................................................
22,688 20,666 Redeemable noncontrolling interests ...............................................................................................................................................
1,416 1,608 Equity .....................................................................................................................................................................................................
104,129 100,090 Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity ........................................................................................... $312,782 $309,581 10
UNITEDHEALTH GROUP CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in millions; unaudited) Nine Months Ended September 30, 2026 2025 Operating Activities Net earnings ......................................................................................................................................................................................... $16,451 $12,589 Noncash items: Depreciation and amortization .......................................................................................................................................................
3,142 3,244 Deferred income taxes and other ..................................................................................................................................................
115 (955) Share-based compensation ...........................................................................................................................................................
843 795 Loss on sale of subsidiary and subsidiaries held for sale ..........................................................................................................
209 139 Net changes in operating assets and liabilities ...............................................................................................................................
4,327 2,777 Cash flows from operating activities ..........................................................................................................................................
25,087 18,589 Investing Activities (Purchases of investments, net of sales and maturities) sales and maturities of investments, net of purchases ...............
(4,486) 1,657 Purchases of property, equipment and capitalized software ........................................................................................................
(2,421) (2,674) Cash paid for acquisitions and other transactions, net ..................................................................................................................
(1,538) (4,436) Repayment of care provider loans - cyberattack ............................................................................................................................
282 1,543 Other, net ..............................................................................................................................................................................................
(655) (2,164) Cash flows used for investing activities ....................................................................................................................................
(8,818) (6,074) Financing Activities Common share repurchases ..............................................................................................................................................................
(5,031) (5,545) Dividends paid ......................................................................................................................................................................................
(6,170) (5,914) Net change in short-term borrowings and long-term debt .............................................................................................................
(3,075) 2,438 Other, net ..............................................................................................................................................................................................
(757) (1,592) Cash flows used for financing activities ....................................................................................................................................
(15,033) (10,613) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents .................................................................................................
(11) 25 Increase in cash and cash equivalents, including cash within businesses held for sale .........................................................
1,225 1,927 Net change in cash within businesses held for sale ......................................................................................................................
255 (29) Net increase in cash and cash equivalents .....................................................................................................................................
1,480 1,898 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period ............................................................................................................................
24,365 25,312 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period ...................................................................................................................................... $25,845 $27,210 11
UNITEDHEALTH GROUP REVENUES BY BUSINESS - SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION (in millions; unaudited) Optum UnitedHealth Group Consolidated (a)UnitedHealthcare Optum Health (c) Optum Insight (c) Optum Rx Total Optum (a) Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 Total revenues ....................................................................... $86,330 $22,910 $5,474 $39,927 $66,883 $112,694 Restructuring and other (2) ................................................. — 35 (14) — 21 21 Adjusted revenues (b) ..................................................... $86,330 $22,945 $5,460 $39,927 $66,904 $112,715 Three Months Ended September 30, 2025 Total revenues ....................................................................... $87,070 $25,422 $5,320 $39,679 $69,177 $113,161 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2026 Total revenues ....................................................................... $258,612 $70,491 $16,001 $113,955 $196,295 $336,447 Restructuring and other (2) ................................................. — 37 (91) (54) (54) Adjusted revenues (b) ..................................................... $258,612 $70,528 $15,910 $113,955 $196,241 $336,393 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2025 Total revenues ....................................................................... $257,790 $74,984 $15,579 $113,270 $200,287 $334,352 UnitedHealthcare Revenues (in millions; unaudited) Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2026 2025 2026 2025 UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual - Domestic .............................................................. $19,223 $19,049 $57,477 $57,065 UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual - Global ...................................................................
985 826 2,841 2,427 UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual - Total ...............................................................
20,208 19,875 60,318 59,492 UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement ................................................................................
42,420 43,356 126,892 127,684 UnitedHealthcare Community & State ......................................................................................
23,702 23,839 71,402 70,614 Total UnitedHealthcare revenues ........................................................................................ $86,330 $87,070 $258,612 $257,790 (a) Optum and consolidated revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2026 and 2025 include Optum eliminations of $1,428 and $1,244; and corporate eliminations of $40,519 and $43,086, respectively.
Optum and consolidated revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2026 and 2025 include Optum eliminations of $4,152 and $3,546; and corporate eliminations of $118,460 and $123,725, respectively.
(b) See page 15 for description of non-GAAP measures.
(c) Prior period amounts have been recast to reflect the realignment of Optum Financial.
Note: See end notes for further information regarding non-GAAP adjustments.
UNITEDHEALTH GROUP EARNINGS BY BUSINESS - SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION (in millions, except percentages; unaudited) Optum UnitedHealth Group ConsolidatedUnitedHealthcare Optum Health (b) Optum Insight (b) Optum Rx Total Optum Three Months Ended September 30, 2026 Earnings from operations .......................................................... $2,831 $735 $1,279 $1,718 $3,732 $6,563 Net portfolio divestitures and South American impacts (1) ..
(141) (85) 2 — (83) (224) Restructuring and other (2) ....................................................... — (62) (12) — (74) (74) Adjusted earnings from operations (a) ............................. $2,690 $588 $1,269 $1,718 $3,575 $6,265 Operating margin ........................................................................
3.3 % 3.2 % 23.4 % 4.3 % 5.6 % 5.8 % Adjusted operating margin (a) ..................................................
3.1 % 2.6 % 23.2 % 4.3 % 5.3 % 5.6 % Three Months Ended September 30, 2025 Earnings from operations .......................................................... $1,805 $41 $920 $1,549 $2,510 $4,315 Operating margin ........................................................................
2.1 % 0.2 % 17.3 % 3.9 % 3.6 % 3.8 % Nine Months Ended September 30, 2026 Earnings from operations .......................................................... $12,467 $3,066 $3,611 $4,400 $11,077 $23,544 Net portfolio divestitures and South American impacts (1) ..
(141) 256 (522) (8) (274) (415) Restructuring and other (2) ....................................................... — (248) 327 — 79 79 Adjusted earnings from operations (a) ............................. $12,326 $3,074 $3,416 $4,392 $10,882 $23,208 Operating margin ........................................................................
4.8 % 4.3 % 22.6 % 3.9 % 5.6 % 7.0 % Adjusted operating margin (a) ..................................................
4.8 % 4.4 % 21.5 % 3.9 % 5.5 % 6.9 % Nine Months Ended September 30, 2025 Earnings from operations .......................................................... $9,106 $1,881 $3,289 $4,308 $9,478 $18,584 Operating margin ........................................................................
3.5 % 2.5 % 21.1 % 3.8 % 4.7 % 5.6 % (a) See page 15 for description of non-GAAP measures.
(b) Prior period amounts have been recast to reflect the realignment of Optum Financial.
Note: See end notes for further information regarding non-GAAP adjustments.
UNITEDHEALTH GROUP PEOPLE SERVED AND PERFORMANCE METRICS - SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION (unaudited) UnitedHealthcare Customer Profile (in thousands) People Served September 30, 2026 June 30, 2026 December 31, 2025 September 30, 2025 Commercial: Risk-based .................................................................................
7,575 7,655 8,165 8,440 Fee-based ..................................................................................
22,180 22,265 21,485 21,490 Total Commercial ...................................................................
29,755 29,920 29,650 29,930 Medicare Advantage ....................................................................
7,605 7,565 8,445 8,435 Medicaid ........................................................................................
6,695 6,780 7,380 7,460 Medicare Supplement (Standardized) ......................................
4,245 4,260 4,285 4,300 Total Community and Senior ..............................................
18,545 18,605 20,110 20,195 Total UnitedHealthcare - Medical .......................................
48,300 48,525 49,760 50,125 Supplemental Data Medicare Part D stand-alone ..................................................
2,690 2,710 2,770 2,795 South American businesses held for sale .............................
1,140 1,145 1,160 1,160 Optum Performance Metrics September 30, 2026 June 30, 2026 December 31, 2025 September 30, 2025 Optum Health Consumers Served (in millions) (a) ..............
92 93 92 93 Optum Rx Quarterly Adjusted Scripts (in millions) ...............
393 387 424 414 (a) Prior period amounts have been recast to reflect the realignment of Optum Financial.
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