UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Shares Up 1.1% – Time to Buy?

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)’s stock price rose 1.1% during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $339.45 and last traded at $338.73. Approximately 6,740,428 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 2% from the average daily volume of 6,612,809 shares. The stock had previously closed at $334.96.

Key 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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently weighed in on UNH. UBS Group boosted their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $378.00 to $430.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Barclays increased their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $386.00 to $391.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, January 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $310.00 to $425.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut UnitedHealth Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $333.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $286.00 to $408.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $385.75.

UnitedHealth Group Trading Down 2.3%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The company has a market capitalization of $300.06 billion, a PE ratio of 17.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 0.42. The company’s fifty day moving average is $330.33 and its 200-day moving average is $322.12.

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

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 16th. Investors of record on Monday, December 8th were paid a dividend of $2.21 per share. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 8th. UnitedHealth Group’s payout ratio is 46.14%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of UNH. LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Beacon Financial Strategies CORP acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter worth $26,000. Sagard Holdings Management Inc. acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the second quarter valued at $29,000. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 69.4% during the 3rd quarter. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC now owns 83 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 34 shares during the last quarter. Finally, 1248 Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the third quarter worth about $29,000. 87.86% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other 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.