Independent Investors Inc. Sells 200 Shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Independent Investors Inc. decreased its holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) by 6.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 3,015 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock after selling 200 shares during the period. Independent Investors Inc.’s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $1,763,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Concord Wealth Partners grew its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 7.2% during the third quarter. Concord Wealth Partners now owns 7,060 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $4,128,000 after buying an additional 476 shares during the last quarter. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 4.6% during the 3rd quarter. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors now owns 5,472 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $3,199,000 after acquiring an additional 243 shares during the last quarter. Smithbridge Asset Management Inc. DE raised its position in UnitedHealth Group by 4.1% in the third quarter. Smithbridge Asset Management Inc. DE now owns 22,429 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $13,114,000 after purchasing an additional 880 shares during the last quarter. Southern Capital Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 770.1% during the third quarter. Southern Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,672 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $2,147,000 after purchasing an additional 3,250 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Summit Place Financial Advisors LLC raised its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 11.3% in the 3rd quarter. Summit Place Financial Advisors LLC now owns 4,913 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $2,873,000 after buying an additional 497 shares during the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UNH opened at $565.46 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $522.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.84, a PEG ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 0.58. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $583.25 and its 200-day moving average is $539.45. The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a twelve month low of $436.38 and a twelve month high of $608.63.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 15th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.15 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.00 by $0.15. The company had revenue of $100.82 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $99.14 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 3.63% and a return on equity of 26.37%. The firm’s revenue was up 9.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $6.56 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 24th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 16th were issued a dividend of $2.10 per share. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.49%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 16th. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio is 54.72%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNH has been the subject of several analyst reports. UBS Group dropped their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $680.00 to $650.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $615.00 to $610.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $525.00 to $630.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 17th. HSBC downgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $615.00 to $595.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $615.53.

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.