UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Shares Sold by Dash Acquisitions Inc.

Dash Acquisitions Inc. decreased its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) by 6.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 602 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock after selling 43 shares during the period. Dash Acquisitions Inc.’s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $340,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in UNH. Kearns & Associates LLC purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the third quarter worth about $219,000. Roanoke Asset Management Corp NY grew its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 5.0% in the 3rd quarter. Roanoke Asset Management Corp NY now owns 7,462 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $4,363,000 after acquiring an additional 357 shares during the period. Affinity Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 4.6% during the 3rd quarter. Affinity Investment Advisors LLC now owns 5,364 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $3,136,000 after purchasing an additional 236 shares during the period. Campbell Wealth Management acquired a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the 3rd quarter worth about $230,000. Finally, Americana Partners LLC grew its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 10.8% in the third quarter. Americana Partners LLC now owns 20,377 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $11,914,000 after purchasing an additional 1,984 shares during the period. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of UnitedHealth Group stock opened at $567.56 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $524.10 billion, a PE ratio of 36.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 0.58. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 1 year low of $436.38 and a 1 year high of $608.63. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $581.96 and its 200-day simple moving average is $541.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 0.91.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 15th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.15 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $7.00 by $0.15. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.37% and a net margin of 3.63%. The company had revenue of $100.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $99.14 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $6.56 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 24th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 16th were issued a $2.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 16th. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.48%. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 54.72%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UNH has been the topic of several research reports. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $525.00 to $630.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 17th. Bank of America reduced their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $675.00 to $650.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $597.00 to $640.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. HSBC downgraded UnitedHealth Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised UnitedHealth Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $481.00 to $647.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 17th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $615.53.

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.