UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Stock Holdings Reduced by Howland Capital Management LLC

Howland Capital Management LLC cut its holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) by 4.0% in the first quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 1,205 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock after selling 50 shares during the quarter. Howland Capital Management LLC’s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $596,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. GUNN & Co INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC. bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $3,426,000. Invst LLC boosted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. Invst LLC now owns 1,252 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $631,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares during the period. Dakota Community Bank & Trust NA boosted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 7.1% during the 3rd quarter. Dakota Community Bank & Trust NA now owns 332 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $167,000 after purchasing an additional 22 shares during the period. Quantum Financial Advisors LLC boosted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 10.4% during the 3rd quarter. Quantum Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,688 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $851,000 after purchasing an additional 159 shares during the period. Finally, Modera Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter. Modera Wealth Management LLC now owns 39,737 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $20,035,000 after purchasing an additional 1,646 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.86% of the company’s stock.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 0.8 %

Shares of UNH opened at $508.38 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $467.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.07, a PEG ratio of 1.47 and a beta of 0.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 0.85. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $499.20 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $500.05. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 52 week low of $436.38 and a 52 week high of $554.70.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.63 by $0.28. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.50% and a net margin of 4.05%. The business had revenue of $99.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $99.23 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $6.26 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.55 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 25th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 17th were given a $2.10 dividend. This is a positive change from UnitedHealth Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.88. This represents a $8.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.65%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 17th. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 51.34%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UNH has been the subject of a number of research reports. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $618.00 to $584.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 5th. Barclays raised their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $534.00 to $560.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 17th. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $566.00 to $571.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 17th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $600.00 to $525.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 8th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $546.00 to $559.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, May 30th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $581.44.

UnitedHealth Group 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.