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UNH·UnitedHealth Group Incorporated

$375.92
-0.40 (-0.11%)
After Hours
High
$383.48
Open
$375.92
Market Cap
340.18B
52W High
$461.62
Low
$372.01
P. Close
$375.92
P/E
24.09
52W Low
$255.96
Fwd P/E
16.73
DailyIQ Est.
$496.12
Inst. Ownership
48.8%
Short Interest
1.46%
Days to Cover
2.5
Technical Score (1D)
27
BEARISH
News Sentiment
41
BEARISH
On Oct 7, UnitedHealth’s consensus estimates for the third quarter projected a 42.1 percent year‑over‑year increase in earnings per share while revenue was expected to decline 1.48 percent to $111.49 billion, a decline attributed to a modest slowdown in certain health‑plan segments. The earnings growth was said to be driven by a robust mix of higher‑margin services and cost‑control measures. On Oct 6, analysts noted that UnitedHealth Group had entered its third‑quarter earnings cycle on Oct 13, with operating earnings rising to $3.9 billion from $2.1 billion in the second quarter and the operating margin climbing to 4.6 percent from 2.4 percent, aided by $860 million in favorable medical reserve development. Analysts were focusing on the durability of the second‑quarter rebound, particularly underlying medical costs, Medicare Advantage utilization, commercial cost trends, specialty‑drug inflation, and provider coding intensity. Management’s 88.1 percent full‑year MCR outlook was also highlighted as a key point of scrutiny for the upcoming report.
LOW TARGET
$380 +1.1%
1 analysts
MEAN TARGET
$482 +28.1%
21 analysts
HIGH TARGET
$529 +40.7%
14 analysts
PRICE RANGE
$380.00 - $529.00
SB / B / H / S / SS
8/19/7/1/1
DAILYIQ EST.
$496.12 (+32.0%)
Sector
Healthcare
Industry
Healthcare Plans
Exchange
NYQ
Country
United States
Symbol
UNH
Description
UnitedHealth Group is a diversified healthcare enterprise providing a broad range of services across the U.S. and internationally. The company's core value proposition revolves around its integrated structure, encompassing four primary segments. UnitedHealthcare focuses on providing health benefit plans and related services to a diverse customer base, including employers, individuals, and government programs. Optum Health delivers care delivery, management, and financial services to various healthcare stakeholders. Optum Insight provides data analytics, software solutions, and consulting services to healthcare providers and payers. Finally, Optum Rx offers pharmacy care services and programs, including prescription fulfillment and clinical management. This multifaceted approach allows UnitedHealth Group to serve a wide spectrum of healthcare needs.
Bought (1Y)
0 shares
$0
Sold (1Y)
4,135.999 shares
$1.6M
Baker Charles D.-
Award/Grant257 shares2026-10-01
FLYNN TIMOTHY PATRICK-
Award/Grant262 shares2026-10-01
GARCIA PAUL R-
Award/Grant103 shares2026-10-01
GARCIA PAUL R-
Award/Grant155 shares2026-10-01
Gil Kristen-
Award/Grant240 shares2026-10-01
70/ 100
Bullish
Overall: Bullish
✓Revenue growing year over year
✓Positive net margin
✓Positive operating cash flow
Net Margin
2.7%
Revenue CAGR
10.4%
Current Ratio
0.79x
Debt / Equity
0.78x
Return on Equity
12.0%
Earnings Summary
UnitedHealth Group operates as a diversified healthcare enterprise, delivering health benefit plans through UnitedHealthcare, care delivery via Optum Health, data analytics with Optum Insight, and pharmacy services through Optum Rx, positioning it as a leading player in the U.S. healthcare plans sector. In the most recent quarters, revenue grew modestly from $100.8 billion in Q4 2024 to $113.2 billion in Q3 2025, a 12.5% year‑over‑year increase, while EPS swung from $6.81 in Q4 2024 to $2.92 in Q3 2025, reflecting the company’s quarterly re‑segmentation and the impact of its Medicare Advantage exit strategy; EPS beat estimates in Q4 2024 and Q1 2025 but fell short in Q2 2025 and Q3 2025, indicating a mixed earnings trajectory. Historically, UnitedHealth has maintained a steady revenue expansion trend, with a 9.4% YoY growth in Q1 2026 and a 1.8% rise in Q2 2026, yet EPS has shown volatility, oscillating between $7.23 in Q1 2026 and $6.38 in Q2 2026, underscoring the company’s sensitivity to cost‑control measures and regulatory pressures. Recent news highlights a Texas Attorney General investigation into alleged deceptive practices and the company’s decision to discontinue Medicare Advantage plans for 390,000 members in 2027, both of which could influence future earnings quality and regulatory scrutiny.

EPS

EstBeatMiss
$1.34$3.01$4.67$6.33$8.00Q2'25Q3'25Q4'25Q1'26Q2'26Q3'26
QtrEstActual+/−
Q3'26$4.15 - -
Q2'26$3.74$6.38+70.4%
Q1'26$6.60$7.23+9.5%
Q4'25$2.12$2.11-0.6%
Q3'25$2.81$2.92+4.0%
Q2'25$4.45$4.08-8.2%

Revenue

EstBeatMiss
$108.9B$110.6B$112.3B$114.0B$115.8BQ2'25Q3'25Q4'25Q1'26Q2'26Q3'26
QtrEstActual+/−
Q3'26$112.5B - -
Q2'26$111.9B$112.0B+0.1%
Q1'26$109.7B$111.7B+1.9%
Q4'25$115.0B$113.2B-1.5%
Q3'25 - $113.2B -
Q2'25 - $111.6B -

Market Data

UNH Stock Snapshot

BEARISH27/100
$375.83−$0.09 (0.0%)
Market cap
340.18B
P/E ratio
24.1
Day range
$372.01 – $383.48
News sentiment
41/100 · Neutral
Analyst target
$481.72 (+28.2%)
Consensus
Buy · 36 analysts
52-week range+46.8% off low · -18.6% from high
$255.96$461.62
Price $375.83 DailyIQ Est. $496.12

UNH is on the weaker side of its setup, with little confirmation for a reversal yet. Positioning shifts among large allocators, not retail flow, set the tone for a name this size.

Reverse DCF

What growth is priced into UNH?

FAIR

At today's price, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated needs to grow free cash flow about 8.8% a year for the next 10 years to justify its valuation at a 7.95% cost of capital. Over its actual history it has compounded free cash flow at 11.3% a year, so the market is asking for 2.5 percentage points below its own delivered rate. On that basis UNH looks priced roughly in line with its own growth record.

Implied FCF growth
8.8%
Historical FCF CAGR
11.3%
Growth gap
-2.5 pts
Verdict
FAIR
Discount rate (WACC)
7.95%
Beta
0.69

Behaviour On Record

What UNH's own history says about today's numbers

Realized volatility (21d)
18.9% 34th pct
Below its peak
-39.6%
vs 200-day average
+6.2%
Up days (1y)
48%

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is currently running 18.9% annualised volatility over the last 21 sessions. Measured against UNH's own 13 years of daily returns rather than a market-wide average, that is the 34th percentile — on the quiet side for this stock, against a typical reading of 22.2%. The distinction matters because a number that looks calm for one stock is turbulent for another, and the absolute figure on its own tells you neither.

UNH is trading -39.6% below its running peak. Across 12 full years on file, its median worst-drawdown-in-a-year was -16.0%, and the deepest was -60.6% in 2025. The current drawdown is already deeper than this stock's typical annual low point, which puts it in the part of its range where past recoveries began — and where past declines also continued.

Price sits +6.2% from its 200-day moving average. Against every other day in its history, that gap ranks at the 42nd percentile — close to the gap it normally carries. Over the past year UNH closed higher on 48% of sessions, and it is currently 1 session into a falling streak.

On October specifically: over 13 years of records, UNH finished the month higher 8 of 13 times, with a median return of +2.1% and an average of +3.9%. Its strongest month historically has been November at +5.1% on average, its weakest February at -1.2%. Seasonality is a weak signal on its own — a decade is a small sample and regimes change — but it is a real distribution rather than a rule of thumb.

Overnight risk is measurable too: UNH has opened more than 2% away from the prior close in 41 of 3,268 sessions (1.3% of the time), with the largest gaps running +9.3% and -6.4%. For anyone holding through an event, that rate is a better guide to overnight exposure than the intraday range.

Across the last 3 dated reports on file, UNH moved an average of 1.8% in the session after earnings, closing higher 3 of those 3 times, with a median move of +2.3% and a largest of +3.2%.

All figures computed from 3,269 daily closes between 2013-10-07 and 2026-10-06, split-adjusted, recomputed daily. Percentiles are against UNH's own 13-year history, not a peer group or index.

Sector Rotation

Is money rotating into or out of UNH's sector?

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated sits in the Health Care sector, currently ranked 3rd of 12 GICS sectors by relative-strength rotation score (lagging).

Sector rank
#3 of 12
Sector state
Lagging
Sector rotation score
64

Options Market

What is the options market pricing for UNH?

CallsPuts

For UnitedHealth Group Incorporated's nearest expiry (2026-10-09, 2 days out), open interest is put-heavy, a defensive/bearish tilt (put/call ratio of 1.77), with at-the-money implied volatility around 51.6%. The options market is pricing roughly a ±4.2% move by that expiry — a range of about $360.33–$391.67.

Put/call ratio (2026-10-09)
1.77
ATM implied volatility
51.6%
Total open interest
56,929
Expected move by 2026-10-09
±4.2% ($360.33–$391.67)

Analyst Rating Changes

Are analysts turning bullish or bearish on UNH?

JP Morgan most recently reiterated its rating on UnitedHealth Group Incorporated to Overweight on Jul 21, 2026 with a price target of $516 (from $466). Over the last 90 days, coverage has run 1 upgrade against 0 downgrades, a net bullish lean.

Latest action
JP Morgan — Overweight
90-day upgrades
1
90-day downgrades
0
Net rating momentum
+1
DateFirmActionRatingPrice target
Jul 21, 2026JP MorganMaintainedOverweight$466 → $516
Jul 21, 2026MizuhoMaintainedOutperform$470 → $493
Jul 20, 2026BarclaysMaintainedOverweight$429 → $441
Jul 17, 2026Morgan StanleyMaintainedOverweight$468 → $529
Jul 17, 2026KeybancMaintainedOverweight$475 → $500
Jul 17, 2026OppenheimerMaintainedOutperform$420 → $500
Jul 17, 2026Truist SecuritiesMaintainedBuy$480 → $500
Jul 17, 2026RBC CapitalMaintainedOutperform$463 → $478
Jul 17, 2026UBSMaintainedBuy$460 → $490
Jul 16, 2026BairdUpgradeUnderperform → Neutral$287 → $453
Jul 14, 2026TD CowenMaintainedHold$337 → $430
Jul 14, 2026Truist SecuritiesMaintainedBuy$440 → $480

UNH Competitive Positioning

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is tracked alongside these names in Healthcare Plans on DailyIQ — ranked by market cap, with today's move alongside.

News Sentiment Analysis

Sentiment gathered from recent headlines

41/100
Strong NegativeNeutralStrong Positive
BEARISH

Recent News Coverage

Most recent articles, ranked by recency (click to expand).

10+ articles
What did this article say?
UnitedHealth Group announced that its Medicare Advantage plans had exited 965,000 members since the end of 2025, reducing its medical care ratio from 89% to 87%. The exits cut coverage for a large cohort of chronically ill patients, who now face higher out‑of‑pocket costs and limited options for switching to Medigap policies. The company’s plan reductions are part of a broader industry trend, but the scale of the loss is material and likely to impact earnings and shareholder value. The announcement was accompanied by warnings from financial commentator Suze Orman, who highlighted the risk to consumers and the potential reputational damage to UnitedHealth.
What did this article say?
UnitedHealth Group increased its dividend to $9.28 per share for the second quarter of 2026, marking a 13% annual growth from fiscal 2020 to 2025. The move follows a healthier medical benefit ratio decline, indicating stronger financial performance. CVS Health maintained its $2.66 dividend, resulting in a higher yield but lower growth. The dividend hike signals confidence in UnitedHealth’s cash flow and supports its shareholder return strategy.
What did this article say?
UnitedHealth’s consensus estimates for the third quarter project a 42.1% year‑over‑year increase in earnings per share, while revenue is expected to fall 1.48% to $111.49 billion. The earnings growth reflects a robust mix of higher-margin services and cost‑control measures. The revenue decline is attributed to a modest slowdown in certain health‑plan segments. Overall, the outlook suggests a positive earnings trajectory despite a slight revenue headwind.
What did this article say?
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) was highlighted among CNBC’s ‘Final Trades’ market experts, with analysts projecting earnings per share of $4.14 and revenue of $111.49 billion for the upcoming quarter. The company’s earnings release is scheduled for October 13. The forecast reflects expectations based on historical performance and current market conditions, but no definitive guidance or material change has been announced. The preview serves as a routine update for investors monitoring UNH’s financial trajectory.
What did this article say?
UnitedHealth Group entered its third‑quarter earnings cycle on October 13, with analysts shifting focus from overall improvement to the durability of its second‑quarter rebound. Operating earnings rose to $3.9 billion from $2.1 billion, and the operating margin climbed to 4.6% from 2.4%, aided by $860 million in favorable medical reserve development. Key concerns for the upcoming report include underlying medical costs, Medicare Advantage utilization, commercial cost trends, specialty‑drug inflation, and provider coding intensity. Management’s 88.1% full‑year MCR outlook will also be closely examined to gauge future profitability.
What did this article say?
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched a probe into UnitedHealth Group, alleging illegal care delays, coverage reversals, and Medicare fraud. The investigation could lead to regulatory scrutiny and potential penalties for the company. The allegations center on claims that UnitedHealth engaged in improper practices that harmed patients and the Medicare program. The probe adds a new legal risk to UnitedHealth’s operating environment.
What did this article say?
UnitedHealth Group rebounded to a $440–$450 range after a sharp decline from $300, but analysts now view the upside as largely realized. The company’s margin recovery, Medicare Advantage growth, and Optum Health performance have been factored into the valuation, leaving little room for further upside. A sell rating was issued, citing a 34% downside from current prices and an intrinsic value near $245.60 per share. The outlook hinges on flawless execution amid persistent medical cost inflation and challenges in commercial and Medicaid segments.
What did this article say?
UnitedHealth Group Inc. closed at $371.90 on October 2, with a 12‑month range between $255.97 and $461.62. The company’s revenue of $450.53 billion yielded a net margin of 3.14%, making earnings highly sensitive to changes in medical cost utilization. A small shift in care usage can swing profits sharply, explaining the wide price swings despite stable revenue. The recent quarter saw earnings growth, but the narrow margin keeps the stock exposed to volatility.
What did this article say?
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued civil investigative demands to UnitedHealth Group seeking evidence of potential violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The demands target the insurer’s business practices within the state. The investigation signals possible regulatory scrutiny that could affect UnitedHealth’s operations and reputation in Texas.

Technical Analysis

Real-time indicators across multiple timeframes

27
BEARISH
Technical indicators reflect the latest computed signal mix for this timeframe.
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Institutional & Hedge Fund Ownership
25 tracked managers · $166.27B combined position · 10 adding, 12 trimming, 3 unchanged (latest 13F filings)
ManagerTrendShares Held% of Co.Position ValueFiled
BlackRock, Inc.▲ Buy76,863,0618.49%$31.95B2026-08-07
Vanguard Group Inc▲ Buy91,600,26010.12%$30.24B2026-01-29
Capital World Investors▲ Buy29,887,9323.30%$12.42B2026-08-12
FMR LLC (Fidelity)▲ Buy27,992,9953.09%$11.63B2026-08-13
Geode Capital Management, LLC▼ Sell21,751,9372.40%$9.01B2026-08-12
JPMorgan Chase & Co▲ Buy21,037,5472.32%$8.83B2026-08-12
Susquehanna International Group, LLP▼ Sell20,863,6672.31%$8.67B2026-08-14
Morgan Stanley▼ Sell14,795,4561.63%$6.15B2026-08-13
Citadel Advisors LLC• Hold13,030,5511.44%$5.42B2026-09-02
Norges Bank▼ Sell12,736,9731.41%$5.29B2026-08-12
Wellington Management Group LLP▲ Buy10,675,1751.18%$4.44B2026-08-14
Capital Research Global Investors▼ Sell10,534,1771.16%$4.38B2026-08-12
Bank of America Corp▼ Sell9,735,8741.08%$4.05B2026-08-14
Fisher Asset Management, LLC▲ Buy9,082,2691.00%$3.77B2026-08-04
Northern Trust Corp▼ Sell8,761,0550.97%$3.64B2026-08-13
Goldman Sachs Group Inc▼ Sell8,216,5320.91%$3.42B2026-08-14
Invesco Ltd.▲ Buy6,858,9840.76%$2.85B2026-08-14
AllianceBernstein L.P.▲ Buy7,669,4200.85%$2.08B2026-08-14
Berkshire Hathaway Inc• Hold5,039,5640.56%$1.66B2026-02-17
Wells Fargo & Company▲ Buy3,741,5790.41%$1.56B2026-08-14
Millennium Management LLC▼ Sell2,839,8530.31%$1.18B2026-08-14
Janus Henderson Group plc• Hold3,691,6070.41%$991.45M2026-05-18
Pentwater Capital Management LP▼ Sell2,219,4580.25%$922.47M2026-08-14
Citigroup Inc▼ Sell2,151,8150.24%$894.36M2026-08-03
D. E. Shaw & Co., Inc.▼ Sell1,990,2190.22%$827.19M2026-08-14
Q2 2026 flow:28.14M sh bought ($11.52B)24.34M sh sold ($10.11B)net +3.81M sh (+$1.41B)
Congressional Trading Activity
25 disclosed trades · ~$640.5K est. traded value · 11 buys, 14 sells
MemberChamberStateTypeAmountTradedFiled
Kevin HernHouseOK01▼ Sell$15K - $50K2026-09-102026-09-25
Richard Dean Dr McCormickHouseGA06▼ Sell$1K - $15K2026-07-302026-08-14
Dan NewhouseHouseWA04▼ Sell$1K - $15K2026-07-102026-07-17
Richard Dean Dr McCormickHouseGA06▼ Sell$1K - $15K2026-06-122026-07-09
Maria Elvira SalazarHouseFL27▼ Sell$1K - $15K2026-06-042026-07-07
John BoozmanSenateAR▲ Buy$1K - $15K2026-06-042026-07-13
Maria Elvira SalazarHouseFL27▲ Buy$1K - $15K2026-04-222026-05-08
Gilbert CisnerosHouseCA31▲ Buy$1K - $15K2026-04-142026-05-08
Alan ArmstrongSenateOK▲ Buy$15K - $50K2026-03-272026-07-21
Richard Dean Dr McCormickHouseGA06▲ Buy$1K - $15K2026-03-192026-04-07
Gilbert CisnerosHouseCA31▲ Buy$1K - $15K2026-03-132026-04-07
Gilbert CisnerosHouseCA31▼ Sell$15K - $50K2026-02-102026-03-09
Josh GottheimerHouseNJ05▲ Buy$1K - $15K2026-02-052026-03-16
Kevin HernHouseOK01▼ Sell$250K - $500K2025-12-232026-01-22
Julie JohnsonHouseTX32▼ Sell$1K - $15K2025-12-182026-01-15
Julie JohnsonHouseTX32▼ Sell$1K - $15K2025-11-132025-12-11
Gilbert CisnerosHouseCA31▼ Sell$1K - $15K2025-11-122025-12-15
Richard Dean Dr McCormickHouseGA06▲ Buy$1K - $15K2025-11-052025-12-09
Lisa McClainHouseMI09▼ Sell$1K - $15K2025-10-312025-11-21
Lisa McClainHouseMI09▼ Sell$1K - $15K2025-10-302025-11-21
Lisa McClainHouseMI09▲ Buy$1K - $15K2025-10-302025-11-21
Gilbert CisnerosHouseCA31▲ Buy$1K - $15K2025-10-092025-11-18
Valerie HoyleHouseOR04▼ Sell$1K - $15K2025-09-232025-10-10
Richard Dean Dr McCormickHouseGA06▼ Sell$1K - $15K2025-09-182025-10-09
Gilbert CisnerosHouseCA31▲ Buy$1K - $15K2025-09-052025-10-10