Kovack Advisors Inc. Increases Stock Position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated $UNH

Kovack Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) by 113.7% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 23,119 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock after buying an additional 12,301 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group accounts for 0.7% of Kovack Advisors Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 26th biggest position. Kovack Advisors Inc.’s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $7,212,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Caitlin John LLC raised its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 14.8% in the first quarter. Caitlin John LLC now owns 862 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $451,000 after buying an additional 111 shares during the last quarter. Triumph Capital Management acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter valued at about $1,324,000. Wealth Effects LLC raised its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 14.4% in the second quarter. Wealth Effects LLC now owns 4,688 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $1,463,000 after buying an additional 591 shares during the last quarter. Arlington Partners LLC acquired a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the second quarter worth about $2,229,000. Finally, Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 14.6% in the 2nd quarter. Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc. now owns 28,798 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $8,984,000 after purchasing an additional 3,660 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.86% of the company’s stock.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

UnitedHealth Group stock opened at $344.57 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $312.07 billion, a PE ratio of 17.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.28 and a beta of 0.47. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 52-week low of $234.60 and a 52-week high of $630.73. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The company’s 50 day moving average is $342.82 and its two-hundred day moving average is $331.10.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $2.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.87 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $113.16 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $113.19 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 4.04% and a return on equity of 19.23%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 12.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $7.15 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 23rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 15th were issued a dividend of $2.21 per share. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 15th. UnitedHealth Group’s payout ratio is 46.14%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Piper Sandler decreased their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $423.00 to $417.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $440.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Tuesday, August 26th. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $286.00 to $408.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $310.00 to $425.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 9th. Finally, Baird R W cut shares of UnitedHealth Group from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 31st. Eighteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $397.12.

About UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage.