UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Shares Bought by Assenagon Asset Management S.A.

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) by 89.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 702,722 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock after buying an additional 331,539 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group accounts for about 0.6% of Assenagon Asset Management S.A.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 21st largest position. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. owned approximately 0.08% of UnitedHealth Group worth $355,479,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. WINTON GROUP Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter valued at $228,000. One Capital Management LLC boosted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 67.9% during the 2nd quarter. One Capital Management LLC now owns 4,611 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $2,348,000 after acquiring an additional 1,864 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter worth approximately $36,323,000. Luts & Greenleigh Group Inc. purchased a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the second quarter valued at approximately $408,000. Finally, Lmcg Investments LLC lifted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 1.9% in the 2nd quarter. Lmcg Investments LLC now owns 32,323 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $16,461,000 after buying an additional 599 shares in the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently issued reports on UNH. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $595.00 to $625.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 3rd. Stephens boosted their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $605.00 to $675.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Piper Sandler reduced their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $605.00 to $600.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 2nd. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $603.00 to $655.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $615.00 to $595.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have assigned a buy rating and three have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $626.79.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

NYSE:UNH opened at $543.76 on Wednesday. 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 firm’s 50-day moving average is $554.45 and its 200-day moving average is $563.12. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 52-week low of $436.38 and a 52-week high of $630.73. The company has a market cap of $500.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.42, a PEG ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 0.62.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 15th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.15 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $6.56 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.61 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The firm 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. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.54%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 9th. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio is 54.72%.

UnitedHealth Group 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.