Smithbridge Asset Management Inc. DE Reduces Stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated $UNH

Smithbridge Asset Management Inc. DE trimmed its stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) by 33.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 14,373 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock after selling 7,089 shares during the period. Smithbridge Asset Management Inc. DE’s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $4,963,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter valued at $3,837,207,000. Berkshire Hathaway Inc purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the 2nd quarter worth about $1,572,193,000. Dodge & Cox boosted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 117.7% during the second quarter. Dodge & Cox now owns 8,750,560 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $2,729,912,000 after buying an additional 4,730,192 shares during the period. Lone Pine Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter worth approximately $528,273,000. Finally, Amundi grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 33.8% in the 2nd quarter. Amundi now owns 6,191,871 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $1,904,372,000 after acquiring an additional 1,565,245 shares during the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

More UnitedHealth Group News

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

• Positive Sentiment: UnitedHealth is running a six-month Medicare Advantage pilot that speeds payments by roughly 50% (sub‑15 day cycles) to help rural hospitals’ cash flow — a move that can reduce provider strain and preserve network stability. Does UnitedHealth’s MA Pilot Signal a New Rural Support Model?
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst coverage remains constructive and media pieces note recent outperformance; one report highlighted a recent session where UNH rose ~1.2%, reflecting pockets of upside sentiment among investors. UnitedHealth Group (UNH) Surpasses Market Returns: Some Facts Worth Knowing
• Positive Sentiment: Wall Street analyst sentiment and buy-side interest are being cited as supportive factors as brokers review UNH ratings and earnings prospects. Is UnitedHealth (UNH) a Buy as Wall Street Analysts Look Optimistic?
• Positive Sentiment: Filings show a purchase by Rep. Gilbert Ray Cisneros Jr., which can be interpreted as incremental insider/institutional demand. UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Stock Acquired Rep. Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr.
• Neutral Sentiment: Options flow and sentiment analyses are active (heavy trading / interest), giving insight into positioning but not a clear directional signal. UnitedHealth Group Options Trading: A Deep Dive into Market Sentiment
• Neutral Sentiment: Comparisons with peers (CVS, Centene) show UNH has lagged on total return over the past year but retains stronger operating margin and a more moderate P/E — a mixed fundamental picture for relative-value investors. UNH Stock vs. CVS
• Neutral Sentiment: Several trend/overview pieces note UNH as a widely watched ticker; that attention increases flows but doesn’t guarantee direction. Here is What to Know Beyond Why UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is a Trending Stock
• Neutral Sentiment: Roundups (Dogs of the Dow) include dividend and yield context that may attract income-focused buyers, but UNH’s yield/placement vs. high-yield names is mixed. The Dogs of the Dow: 10 Downtrodden Dividends Paying Out Up to 6.8%
• Negative Sentiment: Analysts and commentators flag material margin compression after a sharp rise in healthcare costs last year, which has depressed profits and is the primary near‑term concern driving selling pressure. UnitedHealth at an Inflection Point: Margin Recovery or Prolonged Challenges?
• Negative Sentiment: Balanced ‘checkup’ pieces outline bear-case headwinds for 2026 (costs, potential reimbursement/policy risks) that keep investors cautious despite structural scale advantages. UnitedHealth just got a checkup, and UNH stock has some big problems to treat in 2026. The bull and bear cases now

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

UNH stock opened at $331.25 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $330.33 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $322.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.82. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a one year low of $234.60 and a one year high of $606.36. The firm has a market cap of $300.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.29, a PEG ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 0.42.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $2.92 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.87 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $113.16 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $113.19 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 4.04% and a return on equity of 19.23%. UnitedHealth Group’s revenue for the quarter was up 12.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $7.15 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 8th were issued a $2.21 dividend. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 8th. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 46.14%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $267.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. Barclays upped their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $386.00 to $391.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, January 5th. Zacks Research raised UnitedHealth Group from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, October 6th. Evercore ISI upgraded UnitedHealth Group to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $378.00 to $430.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have given a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $385.75.

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.