UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Stock Price Down 2.7% on Analyst Downgrade

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)’s stock price fell 2.7% on Thursday after Mizuho lowered their price target on the stock from $430.00 to $350.00. Mizuho currently has an outperform rating on the stock. UnitedHealth Group traded as low as $266.29 and last traded at $268.5420. 12,703,984 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 10% from the average session volume of 11,568,907 shares. The stock had previously closed at $275.92.

UNH has been the subject of several other reports. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $391.00 to $327.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 30th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded UnitedHealth Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $333.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $418.00 to $340.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Oppenheimer reduced their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $415.00 to $385.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $411.00 to $409.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have given a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $372.13.

Key Headlines Impacting UnitedHealth Group

Here are the key news stories impacting UnitedHealth Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts maintain a cautious bullish tilt: the street consensus is a “Moderate Buy,” reflecting continued confidence in UNH’s franchise despite recent volatility. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts
• Positive Sentiment: Mizuho lowered its price target (from $430 to $350) but kept an “outperform” stance, signaling the view that substantial upside still exists over time despite the near-term headwinds. Benzinga
• Positive Sentiment: Bullish commentators argue the selloff may be a buying opportunity, pointing to long-term growth, AI-driven cost initiatives, insider buying and the company’s historical ability to recover from setbacks. UnitedHealth: Buy The Dip As Multiple Factors Could Drive Strong Long-Term Returns
• Neutral Sentiment: Online interest in UNH has spiked, increasing trading attention and volatility — useful context for near-term flow-driven moves but not a fundamental change. Investors Heavily Search UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH): Here is What You Need to Know
• Neutral Sentiment: Corporate PR note: UnitedHealth marketing chief Terry Clark was appointed CEO of the PGA of America — a non-material executive move that is unlikely to affect UNH fundamentals. Health care executive Terry Clark is appointed CEO at the PGA of America
• Negative Sentiment: Q4 results: UNH posted a modest EPS beat but revenue and margins disappointed; investors focused on a spike in medical costs and management’s cautious tone, which triggered a sharp selloff. UnitedHealth’s Q4 Beat Can’t Stop the Slide: Should You Let Go Now?
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory risk intensified after reports of a DOJ probe and follow-up regulatory questions — adds execution and legal uncertainty that can pressure valuation multiples. UnitedHealth Group Faces DOJ Probe And Regulatory Questions For Future Returns
• Negative Sentiment: Broker and media pessimism is piling up: some firms issued more cautious forecasts and coverage highlighting margin risk and a revenue miss — reinforcing sell-side pressure. Truist Financial Issues Pessimistic Forecast for UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Stock Price

Institutional Investors Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Odyssey Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter worth about $540,000. TD Private Client Wealth LLC boosted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC now owns 7,663 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $2,530,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares during the period. Tucker Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $95,000. RiverFront Investment Group LLC boosted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 13.0% during the fourth quarter. RiverFront Investment Group LLC now owns 2,940 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $971,000 after acquiring an additional 338 shares during the last quarter. Finally, North Dakota State Investment Board bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter valued at $10,304,000. 87.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Down 2.7%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 0.79 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The stock has a market cap of $243.26 billion, a PE ratio of 20.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 0.41. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $326.94 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $323.01.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $2.11 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.09 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $113.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $113.38 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 14.79% and a net margin of 2.69%.The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 12.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $6.81 EPS. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.750- EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group Inc is a diversified health care company headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, that operates two primary business platforms: UnitedHealthcare and Optum. Founded in 1977, the company provides a broad range of health benefits and health care services to individuals, employers, governmental entities and other organizations. Its operations span commercial employer-sponsored plans, individual and Medicare and Medicaid programs, and services for customers and health systems in the United States and selected international markets.

UnitedHealthcare is the company’s benefits business, administering health plans and networks, managing provider relationships, and offering coverage products for employers, individuals, and government-sponsored programs.