Barclays Increases UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Price Target to $373.00

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) had its price target raised by equities research analysts at Barclays from $327.00 to $373.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has an “overweight” rating on the healthcare conglomerate’s stock. Barclays‘s price target would suggest a potential upside of 5.17% from the company’s current price.

UNH has been the topic of a number of other reports. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $411.00 to $409.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Oppenheimer lowered their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $415.00 to $385.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “sell (d+)” rating in a report on Monday, March 2nd. Piper Sandler reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, Evercore raised shares of UnitedHealth Group to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have given a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $377.64.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 0.3%

NYSE:UNH opened at $354.66 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $322.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.79, a PEG ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 0.40. UnitedHealth Group has a 1-year low of $234.60 and a 1-year high of $429.90. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $292.17 and its 200-day moving average price is $317.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.79.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 21st. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.76 by $0.47. The firm had revenue of $111.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $109.84 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 2.68% and a return on equity of 14.65%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 2.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $7.20 earnings per share. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 18.250- EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group will post 18.32 EPS for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Axis Wealth Partners LLC increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. Axis Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,631 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $563,000 after buying an additional 28 shares during the period. Kellett Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. Kellett Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,746 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $576,000 after buying an additional 29 shares during the period. Founders Capital Management LLC increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 3.0% in the 4th quarter. Founders Capital Management LLC now owns 982 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $324,000 after buying an additional 29 shares during the period. Cooper Financial Group increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Cooper Financial Group now owns 4,338 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $1,432,000 after buying an additional 30 shares during the period. Finally, Successful Portfolios LLC increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 2.6% in the 4th quarter. Successful Portfolios LLC now owns 1,194 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $411,000 after buying an additional 30 shares during the period. 87.86% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Trending Headlines about UnitedHealth Group

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 beat and raised full‑year outlook — UNH reported Q1 adjusted EPS of $7.23 (vs. street ~$6.76) and revenue ~ $111.7B, and raised FY‑2026 guidance (management set ~18.25 EPS range), which drove the initial rally. UnitedHealth just raised its full-year guidance
• Positive Sentiment: Broad analyst support — Several firms (Morgan Stanley, RBC, Oppenheimer, Wells Fargo, Leerink and Argus) raised price targets and upgraded ratings after the quarter, signaling renewed conviction from Wall Street. This buying from analysts is reinforcing the move higher. These Analysts Increase Their Forecasts On UnitedHealth After Upbeat Earnings
• Positive Sentiment: Options flow & investor positioning — Unusual call buying (roughly 164k calls, ~30% above average) shows short‑term bullish speculative interest that can amplify upward momentum. (No link available)
• Positive Sentiment: Strategic investments highlighted — Management emphasized AI initiatives and value‑based care expansion (plus a new rural health initiative), which investors see as catalysts for margin expansion and long‑term growth. UNH Q1 Deep Dive: AI Investment and Value-Based Care Drive UnitedHealth’s Strong Start
• Neutral Sentiment: Long‑term value narrative — Several commentary pieces (Zacks, MSN features) argue UNH is a value/quality pick for long‑term investors given earnings power and discounted valuation vs. history; this is more strategic than an immediate price driver. Why UnitedHealth Group (UNH) is a Top Value Stock for the Long-Term
• Neutral Sentiment: Governance spotlight — A shareholder proposal to require a future Board chair be independent has attracted attention; the board opposes it. Governance votes can influence sentiment but are uncertain near‑term. Independent Chair Proposal Tests Governance And Valuation Views At UnitedHealth Group
• Negative Sentiment: Mixed analyst signals remain — Some firms maintain cautious ratings (TD Cowen raised target but kept a “hold” implying slight downside; Robert W. Baird recently flagged an underperform view), so not all analysts are convinced the turnaround is durable. Benzinga coverage of analyst actions

UnitedHealth Group Company Profile

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.