Zacks Research Issues Optimistic Forecast for UNH Earnings

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) – Equities research analysts at Zacks Research upped their Q2 2026 earnings estimates for shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report issued on Tuesday, February 10th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the healthcare conglomerate will post earnings of $4.74 per share for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $4.36. The consensus estimate for UnitedHealth Group’s current full-year earnings is $29.54 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for UnitedHealth Group’s Q3 2026 earnings at $3.48 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $6.70 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $4.98 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $3.92 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $22.68 EPS.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $2.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.09 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $113.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $113.38 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 2.69% and a return on equity of 14.79%. UnitedHealth Group’s revenue was up 12.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $6.81 earnings per share. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.750- EPS.

A number of other equities analysts have also issued reports on UNH. Evercore raised UnitedHealth Group to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $408.00 to $361.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Mizuho decreased their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $430.00 to $350.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Barclays reduced their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $391.00 to $327.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $425.00 to $389.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $372.13.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

NYSE UNH opened at $278.75 on Wednesday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $322.64 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $323.07. The stock has a market cap of $252.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 0.41. The company has a current ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. UnitedHealth Group has a 52 week low of $234.60 and a 52 week high of $606.36.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of UNH. Mill Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 0.3% in the fourth quarter. Mill Capital Management LLC now owns 60,275 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $19,897,000 after purchasing an additional 157 shares during the last quarter. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC lifted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 28.6% in the fourth quarter. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC now owns 1,294,266 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $427,250,000 after purchasing an additional 287,590 shares during the period. Hoxton Planning & Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 14.8% during the 4th quarter. Hoxton Planning & Management LLC now owns 952 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $314,000 after acquiring an additional 123 shares during the period. Accuvest Global Advisors acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter worth about $660,000. Finally, Empowered Funds LLC boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 13.0% during the fourth quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 84,231 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $27,805,000 after purchasing an additional 9,678 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.86% of the company’s stock.

UnitedHealth Group News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks raised several near-term quarterly EPS forecasts (Q1 2027, Q2 2026 and Q2 2027), highlighting pockets of stronger short‑term earnings momentum that may support near-term valuation. MarketBeat UNH
• Positive Sentiment: Despite the revenue/guidance pullback, analysts note robust cash generation — operating cash flow near $18B and strong levered free cash flow — which supports liquidity, capital return potential and longer‑term recovery prospects. UnitedHealth: After The Collapse
• Neutral Sentiment: News roundups (earnings recap) summarize the core moves: slight EPS beat, revenue short of estimates, and management’s downward 2026 revenue guide — useful context but largely repetitive of primary reports. Yahoo: Here’s What Happened to UnitedHealth Group
• Negative Sentiment: Mizuho cut its price target to $350 (from $430) after Q4 results, signaling reduced medium‑term upside even though the firm kept an Outperform rating — a clear drag on sentiment and analyst‑driven demand. Mizuho Lowers UNH Target
• Negative Sentiment: Management trimmed 2026 revenue guidance to $439B (from $448B), the company’s first annual decline in decades — this fuels near‑term concern about Medicare Advantage headwinds and margin normalization. UnitedHealth: After The Collapse
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks also cut some future-quarter EPS forecasts (notably Q3 2026 and Q4 2027) and projects a lower FY2028 EPS, reflecting lingering uncertainty in revenue/margin recovery that could pressure medium‑term estimates. MarketBeat UNH
• Negative Sentiment: Social and market commentary highlight the earnings reaction — revenue miss, Medicare Advantage worries and cyberattack aftereffects — which drove heavy selling in immediate post‑earnings sessions and keeps near‑term volatility elevated. QuiverQuant Opinions

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.