Alden Global Capital LLC Takes $7.38 Million Position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated $UNH

Alden Global Capital LLC purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 23,655 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock, valued at approximately $7,380,000. UnitedHealth Group makes up about 4.5% of Alden Global Capital LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 9th biggest holding.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Brighton Jones LLC increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 176.2% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 44,249 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $22,384,000 after buying an additional 28,231 shares during the last quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 137.1% in the fourth quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 4,019 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $2,033,000 after acquiring an additional 2,324 shares in the last quarter. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. lifted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 67.0% during the first quarter. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. now owns 12,161 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $6,369,000 after acquiring an additional 4,877 shares during the period. Horizon Investments LLC grew its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 8.6% in the 1st quarter. Horizon Investments LLC now owns 11,462 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $6,003,000 after purchasing an additional 908 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 19.3% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 5,197,427 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $2,721,912,000 after purchasing an additional 839,002 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 87.86% of the company’s stock.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

NYSE UNH opened at $341.83 on Friday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $339.84 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $316.91. The stock has a market capitalization of $309.65 billion, a PE ratio of 17.84, a P/E/G ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.82. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 1 year low of $234.60 and a 1 year high of $606.36.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $2.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.87 by $0.05. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 19.23% and a net margin of 4.04%.The company had revenue of $113.16 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $113.19 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $7.15 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 12.2% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 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 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 8th will be issued a dividend of $2.21 per share. This represents a $8.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 8th. UnitedHealth Group’s payout ratio is currently 46.14%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently issued reports on UNH. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $310.00 to $425.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, October 9th. Truist Financial lifted their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $310.00 to $365.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 9th. Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $423.00 to $417.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $317.00 to $409.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, October 17th. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised UnitedHealth Group from a “sell (d+)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a report on Friday, October 24th. Seventeen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, UnitedHealth Group currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $385.54.

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.