Carlson Capital Management Has $13.42 Million Stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Carlson Capital Management decreased its position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) by 5.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 26,524 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock after selling 1,415 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group comprises approximately 0.6% of Carlson Capital Management’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest position. Carlson Capital Management’s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $13,417,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans grew its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 138.0% in the fourth quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 332,813 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $169,686,000 after purchasing an additional 192,985 shares during the last quarter. Retirement Planning Co of New England Inc. grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 16.8% during the fourth quarter. Retirement Planning Co of New England Inc. now owns 541 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $274,000 after buying an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. Mystic Asset Management Inc. grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 76.8% during the fourth quarter. Mystic Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,167 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $590,000 after buying an additional 507 shares in the last quarter. Argent Advisors Inc. grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 4.1% during the fourth quarter. Argent Advisors Inc. now owns 2,238 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $1,132,000 after buying an additional 88 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Aspen Wealth Strategies LLC grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 1.4% during the fourth quarter. Aspen Wealth Strategies LLC now owns 1,775 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $898,000 after buying an additional 25 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.86% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at UnitedHealth Group

In other news, Director Timothy Patrick Flynn bought 1,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, January 17th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $511.57 per share, with a total value of $511,570.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 4,500 shares in the company, valued at $2,302,065. This represents a 28.57 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.33% of the company’s stock.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

UNH stock opened at $499.01 on Tuesday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $511.11 and a 200-day moving average price of $549.15. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 1-year low of $436.38 and a 1-year high of $630.73. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The firm has a market cap of $456.45 billion, a PE ratio of 32.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.62.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.81 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.74 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $100.81 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $101.60 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.69% and a net margin of 3.60%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $5.83 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 10th will be paid a dividend of $2.10 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 10th. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.68%. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 54.19%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UNH has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Barclays reduced their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $655.00 to $642.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $700.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Friday, January 17th. HSBC raised UnitedHealth Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $595.00 target price on the stock in a report on Friday, January 10th. Piper Sandler reduced their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $605.00 to $600.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 2nd. Finally, Stephens increased their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $605.00 to $675.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Twenty equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $629.32.

UnitedHealth Group Company Profile

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.