Q3 EPS Forecast for UnitedHealth Group Lowered by Analyst

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) – Stock analysts at Zacks Research cut their Q3 2027 earnings per share estimates for UnitedHealth Group in a report released on Tuesday, August 18th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the healthcare conglomerate will earn $4.74 per share for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $4.81. Zacks Research currently has a “Strong-Buy” rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for UnitedHealth Group’s current full-year earnings is $19.69 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for UnitedHealth Group’s Q4 2027 earnings at $4.07 EPS, Q1 2028 earnings at $7.36 EPS and Q2 2028 earnings at $7.19 EPS.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.94 by $1.44. The business had revenue of $112.03 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $110.81 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 16.53% and a net margin of 3.14%.The business’s revenue was up .4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $4.08 EPS. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 19.500-20.000 EPS.

A number of other research firms have also recently weighed in on UNH. Argus raised shares of UnitedHealth Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $400.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 22nd. Morgan Stanley upped their target price 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. Bank of America reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Monday, July 20th. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Tuesday, July 21st. Finally, Mizuho increased their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $470.00 to $493.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, July 20th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have assigned a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $455.92.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UNH opened at $388.03 on Thursday. UnitedHealth Group has a 1-year low of $255.96 and a 1-year high of $461.62. The firm has a market capitalization of $348.29 billion, a PE ratio of 24.97, a P/E/G ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.78 and a quick ratio of 0.78. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $414.75 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $355.03.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 22nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 14th will be paid a dividend of $2.32 per share. This represents a $9.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 14th. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 59.72%.

Insider Activity at UnitedHealth Group

In other news, CEO Patrick Hugh Conway sold 500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $410.00, for a total value of $205,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 16,497 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,763,770. The trade was a 2.94% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.19% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. LFG Wealth Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 3.3% in the 2nd quarter. LFG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 853 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $355,000 after purchasing an additional 27 shares during the last quarter. Synergy Financial Group LTD raised its position in UnitedHealth Group by 3.1% during the second quarter. Synergy Financial Group LTD now owns 887 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $369,000 after buying an additional 27 shares during the period. Ares Financial Consulting LLC grew its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 7.2% during the 2nd quarter. Ares Financial Consulting LLC now owns 419 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $174,000 after acquiring an additional 28 shares in the last quarter. Rockland Trust Co. increased its position in UnitedHealth Group by 1.1% during the second quarter. Rockland Trust Co. now owns 2,589 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $1,076,000 after buying an additional 29 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Matrix Trust Co boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 24.8% during the 2nd quarter. Matrix Trust Co now owns 146 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $61,000 after acquiring an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Trending Headlines about UnitedHealth Group

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts raised earnings forecasts. Zacks Research increased its estimates for Q1 2027 EPS to $7.12, Q2 2027 EPS to $6.35, fiscal 2027 EPS to $22.28 and fiscal 2028 EPS to $25.74. Zacks maintained a “Strong-Buy” rating, signaling expectations for continued earnings recovery. Zacks Research earnings estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Valuation and operating trends could support a recovery. A Zacks analysis said improving medical costs, higher earnings estimates and shareholder capital returns make UnitedHealth appear reasonably valued at approximately 18.39 times forward earnings, although regulatory risks remain. UnitedHealth valuation analysis
• Positive Sentiment: The dividend remains a support for income-focused investors. UnitedHealth authorized a dividend while facing governance litigation, reinforcing its capital-return appeal, though the payout does not remove the company’s broader legal risks. UnitedHealth dividend authorization

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.