Leerink Partnrs Issues Pessimistic Estimate for UNH Earnings

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) – Equities researchers at Leerink Partnrs cut their Q1 2025 earnings estimates for UnitedHealth Group in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, January 16th. Leerink Partnrs analyst W. Mayo now expects that the healthcare conglomerate will post earnings of $7.30 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $7.34. The consensus estimate for UnitedHealth Group’s current full-year earnings is $29.77 per share. Leerink Partnrs also issued estimates for UnitedHealth Group’s Q2 2025 earnings at $7.53 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $7.64 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $7.22 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $29.69 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $8.38 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $8.55 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $8.60 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $8.13 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $38.25 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $43.57 EPS.

Other equities analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $595.00 to $625.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 3rd. Truist Financial decreased their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $625.00 to $610.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $615.00 to $610.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. KeyCorp reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $650.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Finally, Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $605.00 to $600.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 2nd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $627.74.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

Shares of UNH opened at $524.78 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.83 and a quick ratio of 0.91. The company’s 50-day moving average is $547.07 and its 200-day moving average is $563.84. UnitedHealth Group has a fifty-two week low of $436.38 and a fifty-two week high of $630.73. The firm has a market capitalization of $482.95 billion, a PE ratio of 33.86, a PEG ratio of 1.39 and a beta of 0.62.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.81 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.74 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $100.81 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $101.60 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 3.60% and a return on equity of 26.69%. The company’s revenue was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $5.83 earnings per share.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On UnitedHealth Group

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Kathleen S. Wright Associates Inc. bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 3rd quarter worth $27,000. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates raised its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 152.4% in the 3rd quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 53 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 32 shares during the period. West Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the 3rd quarter valued at about $32,000. AlphaMark Advisors LLC bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Finally, RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the third quarter valued at about $37,000. 87.86% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Investors of record on Monday, December 9th were given a $2.10 dividend. This represents a $8.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.60%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 9th. UnitedHealth Group’s payout ratio is currently 54.19%.

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.