FARMERS & MERCHANTS TRUST Co OF LONG BEACH Sells 2,844 Shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated $UNH

FARMERS & MERCHANTS TRUST Co OF LONG BEACH lowered its position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) by 15.2% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 15,876 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock after selling 2,844 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group comprises 1.2% of FARMERS & MERCHANTS TRUST Co OF LONG BEACH’s holdings, making the stock its 17th largest position. FARMERS & MERCHANTS TRUST Co OF LONG BEACH’s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $5,241,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in UNH. Guerra Advisors Inc acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the 3rd quarter worth $1,059,000. Phoenix Financial Ltd. boosted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 111.5% in the 3rd quarter. Phoenix Financial Ltd. now owns 41,986 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $14,282,000 after purchasing an additional 22,137 shares during the period. Money Concepts Capital Corp boosted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 59.1% in the 3rd quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp now owns 12,380 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $4,275,000 after purchasing an additional 4,600 shares during the period. Compass Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the 3rd quarter worth $13,691,000. Finally, Public Sector Pension Investment Board boosted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 43.1% in the 3rd quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 287,132 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $99,147,000 after purchasing an additional 86,432 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 87.86% of the company’s stock.

UnitedHealth Group News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 beat and guidance raise: UNH reported a quarterly EPS beat and raised FY guidance, which analysts say has driven renewed momentum and a sharp short‑term share rebound. This is the primary driver behind today’s lift. A Look At UnitedHealth Group (UNH) Valuation As Q1 2026 Beat And Guidance Hike Drive Fresh Momentum
• Positive Sentiment: Prior authorization modernization: UnitedHealthcare said it will standardize a majority of electronic prior‑authorization submissions (70%+ by year‑end), reducing provider friction and potentially lowering administrative costs. This supports margin improvement expectations. UnitedHealthcare Champions Industry Effort to Standardize Prior Authorization Requirements
• Positive Sentiment: Large call‑option activity: Reported heavy buying of UNH call options signals bullish positioning from traders anticipating further upside after the earnings beat. That can amplify near‑term upward pressure on the stock. Investors Purchase Large Volume of UnitedHealth Group Call Options
• Positive Sentiment: High‑profile bullish media/analyst commentary: Jim Cramer and several outlets/analysts have highlighted UNH as a buy after the Q1 print, which is helping retail and momentum flows. Jim Cramer Says UNH at $354 Is a Steal — Here’s Why the Math Backs Him Up
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrades / favorable coverage: Argus and other outlets have upgraded or upgraded coverage tone recently, adding credibility to the recovery story. Argus Research upgrades UnitedHealth Group (UNH)
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation debate: Coverage discusses UNH’s P/E and valuation after the rebound; some view the stock as a value play now, while others caution the 1‑year TSR still lags. Valuation is driving contrasting investor views, sustaining volatility. UnitedHealth: Recovery Is Progressing, But Upside May Be Limited Near Term
• Negative Sentiment: Optum Health execution risk / limited near‑term upside: Independent analysis notes that while medical margins improved, Optum Health margins remain challenged and some recovery gains may be non‑structural—this could limit upside if operational recovery stalls. UnitedHealth: Recovery Is Progressing, But Upside May Be Limited Near Term
• Negative Sentiment: Governance proposal: A shareholder proposal seeking an independent board chair is drawing attention; the board opposes it. Governance disputes can create noise and potentially weigh on sentiment if shareholder activism grows. Independent Chair Proposal Tests Governance And Valuation Views At UnitedHealth Group
• Positive Sentiment: Rural health initiative: UNH launched a broad rural health program and prior‑authorization reductions for rural providers, strengthening growth/PR narrative in underserved markets. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) Launches Broad Rural Health Initiative to Strengthen Underserved Communities
• Negative Sentiment: Mixed analyst notes: A recent price‑target adjustment (TD Cowen raise to $337 but maintained Hold) implies limited near‑term upside from some sell‑side desks—this can temper aggressive buy calls. TD Cowen raises price target to $337 (Hold)

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UNH opened at $355.05 on Monday. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $293.40 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $316.63. The company has a market cap of $322.46 billion, a PE ratio of 26.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 0.40. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a twelve month low of $234.60 and a twelve month high of $424.12.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last announced its quarterly earnings results 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 the consensus estimate of $109.84 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 14.65% and a net margin of 2.68%.The business’s revenue was up 2.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $7.20 earnings per share. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 18.250- EPS. On average, analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 18.29 EPS for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 9th were given a dividend of $2.21 per share. This represents a $8.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 9th. UnitedHealth Group’s payout ratio is 66.77%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Mizuho reduced their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $430.00 to $350.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. TD Cowen raised their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $311.00 to $337.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday. Argus upgraded UnitedHealth Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $400.00 price objective for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 22nd. Leerink Partners raised their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $345.00 to $400.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 22nd. Finally, KeyCorp restated an “overweight” rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have assigned a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $377.64.

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.