Leerink Partnrs Issues Negative Outlook for UNH Earnings

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) – Investment analysts at Leerink Partnrs decreased their Q1 2026 EPS estimates for shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report issued on Wednesday, September 24th. Leerink Partnrs analyst W. Mayo now anticipates that the healthcare conglomerate will earn $5.07 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $5.09. The consensus estimate for UnitedHealth Group’s current full-year earnings is $29.54 per share. Leerink Partnrs also issued estimates for UnitedHealth Group’s Q3 2026 earnings at $3.93 EPS.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 29th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $4.08 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.45 by ($0.37). UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 23.32% and a net margin of 5.04%.The company had revenue of $111.62 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $111.75 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $6.80 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 12.9% on a year-over-year basis. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 16.000- EPS.

Other research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Piper Sandler cut their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $353.00 to $317.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Oppenheimer cut their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $400.00 to $325.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Robert W. Baird reiterated an “underperform” rating and set a $198.00 price objective (down previously from $312.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Thursday, July 31st. Sanford C. Bernstein lifted their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $337.00 to $379.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, September 5th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $418.00 to $310.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 6th. Sixteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $358.95.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Down 1.7%

NYSE UNH opened at $345.84 on Thursday. UnitedHealth Group has a one year low of $234.60 and a one year high of $630.73. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $299.96 and its 200 day moving average price is $361.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 0.85. The firm has a market capitalization of $313.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.98, a PEG ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 0.45.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 23rd. Investors of record on Monday, September 15th were paid a $2.21 dividend. This represents a $8.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 15th. UnitedHealth Group’s payout ratio is 38.30%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. National Wealth Management Group LLC acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter worth $706,000. Caldwell Trust Co acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter worth $4,520,000. Canal Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 20.4% in the second quarter. Canal Capital Management LLC now owns 1,407 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $439,000 after purchasing an additional 238 shares during the period. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 45.4% in the second quarter. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC now owns 20,173 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $6,293,000 after purchasing an additional 6,299 shares during the period. Finally, Silicon Valley Capital Partners boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 14.8% in the second quarter. Silicon Valley Capital Partners now owns 4,043 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $1,261,000 after purchasing an additional 522 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.86% of the company’s stock.

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.