UnitedHealth Group’s (UNH) Hold Rating Reiterated at TD Cowen

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH)‘s stock had its “hold” rating restated by equities research analysts at TD Cowen in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $402.00 target price on the healthcare conglomerate’s stock. TD Cowen’s price target would suggest a potential downside of 1.34% from the company’s previous close.

UNH has been the subject of a number of other reports. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $468.00 to $529.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, July 17th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $401.00 to $490.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, July 17th. UBS Group reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Tuesday. Bank of America reissued a “buy” rating and set a $450.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Monday, July 20th. Finally, Mizuho increased their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $470.00 to $493.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, July 20th. Twenty analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $461.48.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

Shares of UnitedHealth Group stock traded up $11.83 during trading on Thursday, reaching $407.45. 10,156,551 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,394,575. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 0.74. UnitedHealth Group has a 1-year low of $255.96 and a 1-year high of $461.62. The company has a market cap of $365.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.27, a PEG ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 0.60. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $387.17 and its 200 day moving average price is $384.52.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 13th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $4.69 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.14 by $0.55. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 17.95% and a net margin of 3.53%. The company had revenue of $112.70 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $111.31 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.59 EPS. UnitedHealth Group’s revenue was down .4% on a year-over-year basis. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 20.500- EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group will post 20.00 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at UnitedHealth Group

In other news, CEO Patrick Conway sold 1,169 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $390.00, for a total value of $455,910.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 15,328 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,977,920. This represents a 7.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.19% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in UNH. Whitener Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 14.9% during the third quarter. Whitener Capital Management Inc. now owns 4,475 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $1,643,000 after acquiring an additional 582 shares during the period. V Square Quantitative Management LLC raised its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 7.5% in the third quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 3,487 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $1,280,000 after buying an additional 244 shares during the period. Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional Inc. bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the third quarter valued at $3,623,000. First Merchants Corp raised its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 3.6% in the third quarter. First Merchants Corp now owns 1,390 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $510,000 after buying an additional 48 shares during the period. Finally, Harrell Investment Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 16.1% in the third quarter. Harrell Investment Partners LLC now owns 8,440 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $3,098,000 after buying an additional 1,170 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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: Q3 earnings beat and raised guidance: UnitedHealth reported $112.7 billion in revenue and adjusted earnings of $4.69 per share, exceeding consensus estimates. Management raised its 2026 adjusted EPS outlook to at least $20.50, compared with its prior $19.50–$20.00 range. UnitedHealth Group gains after Q3 beat and higher 2026 outlook
• Positive Sentiment: Improving margins support the recovery narrative: The medical care ratio improved to 88.4%, while Optum generated $3.7 billion in earnings. Investors were also encouraged by pricing discipline, benefit changes, care-delivery improvements and management’s expectation for stronger growth and margin recovery in 2027. UNH Q3 Earnings Call Highlights 2027 Growth and Margin Recovery
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst support remains substantial: Goldman Sachs reportedly raised its price target to $506, while Piper Sandler increased its target to $504 and maintained an overweight rating. UnitedHealth is also being highlighted as a defensive, low-beta healthcare stock amid rising inflation. Goldman Sachs raises UNH target price to $506
• Neutral Sentiment: Medicare strategy offers longer-term upside but carries execution risk: UnitedHealth’s focus on special-needs plans and expanded Medicare coverage could support targeted 2027 growth, provided the company can manage elevated medical costs and Medicaid pressure. Can UNH’s Focus on Special Needs Plans Strengthen Medicare Growth?
• Negative Sentiment: Growth concerns temper the earnings beat: Revenue was essentially flat year over year, membership has declined, and some investors remain uncertain about the company’s growth path following Medicare-related changes. TD Cowen reaffirmed a hold rating with a $402 target, while other analysts reduced forecasts or targets despite retaining constructive ratings. UnitedHealth Beats on Earnings, But Investors Question Growth Path

About UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE: UNH) is a diversified health care and well-being company serving individuals, employers, health care providers and government programs. Its operations are organized primarily through UnitedHealthcare and Optum.

UnitedHealthcare provides health benefit plans and services, including employer-sponsored coverage, individual and family plans, Medicare and Medicaid offerings, and other government-supported programs. Its services include health insurance administration, pharmacy benefits and care management.

Optum provides health care services, technology and data solutions, pharmacy services, and analytics to health plans, employers, government agencies, health care providers and consumers.