UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Shares Sold by American Trust

American Trust cut its holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) by 15.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 14,097 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock after selling 2,633 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group accounts for about 0.7% of American Trust’s portfolio, making the stock its 21st largest holding. American Trust’s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $8,242,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 2.5% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 8,061,916 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $4,884,019,000 after buying an additional 193,800 shares during the period. Peapack Gladstone Financial Corp boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1.7% in the third quarter. Peapack Gladstone Financial Corp now owns 70,718 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $41,348,000 after purchasing an additional 1,200 shares during the period. Tidal Investments LLC increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 12.7% during the 3rd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 35,458 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $20,732,000 after buying an additional 3,993 shares during the period. Destination Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the third quarter worth $295,000. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 209.9% in the third quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 28,886 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $16,889,000 after purchasing an additional 19,566 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.86% of the company’s stock.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UNH opened at $515.73 on Friday. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $583.29 and its 200 day moving average price is $559.30. The stock has a market cap of $474.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.60, a PEG ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 0.58. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 52 week low of $436.38 and a 52 week 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.

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

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th will be paid a dividend of $2.10 per share. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.63%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 9th. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 54.72%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on UNH shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $595.00 to $625.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 3rd. Stephens raised their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $605.00 to $675.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, December 5th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $615.00 to $595.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, Truist Financial restated a “buy” rating and set a $625.00 price target (down previously from $640.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $626.84.

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.