UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Trading 3.7% Higher Following Dividend Announcement

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) traded up 3.7% during mid-day trading on Wednesday after the company announced a dividend. The stock traded as high as $284.74 and last traded at $284.1060. 11,348,800 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 8% from the average session volume of 10,460,435 shares. The stock had previously closed at $273.95.

The newly announced dividend which will be paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 9th will be paid a $2.21 dividend. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.1%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 9th. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 67.02%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on UNH shares. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $408.00 to $361.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $418.00 to $340.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective 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. TD Cowen raised their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $335.00 to $338.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Finally, Piper Sandler reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, UnitedHealth Group currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $372.13.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 3.7%

The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $313.51 and its 200-day simple moving average is $325.44. The stock has a market cap of $257.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.54, a P/E/G ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 0.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.79.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $2.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.09 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $113.73 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 period in the previous year, the company posted $6.81 earnings per share. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.750- EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Board approved a quarterly cash dividend of $2.21 per share (payable Mar 17, shareholders of record Mar 9); the payout implies about a 3.1% yield and supports income-focused buyers. Business Wire Dividend Announcement
• Neutral Sentiment: Company press releases (and wider coverage) formalize the dividend and remind investors of UnitedHealth’s large scale and cash-generation profile, which can moderate volatility for long-term holders. Yahoo Finance
• Neutral Sentiment: Several market commentaries note UNH has underperformed the Dow and that valuation has compressed after the recent pullback; analysts remain mixed but some are cautiously optimistic about recovery if margins normalize. Barchart
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory and guidance shock: reporting suggests a major driver of the recent ~23% decline was disappointing 2026 guidance plus a proposed Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement update for 2027 that was essentially flat (+0.09%), well below industry models — this has materially cut forward earnings expectations. Forbes
• Negative Sentiment: Core business margin pressure: UnitedHealthcare revenue rose ~15.7% in 2025, but adjusted operating earnings declined sharply (reported ~41.1% fall) as medical cost trends and reduced Medicare funding squeezed margins — investors will be watching repricing and cost-management progress. Zacks
• Negative Sentiment: Near-term price weakness continues in daily trading reports and analyst notes as the market digests guidance, regulatory risk and slower margin recovery — the stock’s recent volatility reflects uncertainty about near-term earnings. Yahoo Market Note

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. North Capital Inc. increased its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 16.2% in the 3rd quarter. North Capital Inc. now owns 194 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $67,000 after purchasing an additional 27 shares during the last quarter. Sunflower Bank N.A. raised its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 1.5% during the third quarter. Sunflower Bank N.A. now owns 1,916 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $662,000 after acquiring an additional 28 shares in the last quarter. Axis Wealth Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 28 shares in the last quarter. Abound Wealth Management increased its position in UnitedHealth Group by 13.5% during the 3rd quarter. Abound Wealth Management now owns 244 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $84,000 after purchasing an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Founders Capital Management LLC boosted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 3.0% in the fourth 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 in the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.