UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Position Boosted by Agate Pass Investment Management LLC

Agate Pass Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) by 8.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,629 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock after acquiring an additional 125 shares during the period. Agate Pass Investment Management LLC’s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $824,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Asset Allocation & Management Company LLC bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $455,000. Capital Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 11.4% during the 4th quarter. Capital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 25,296 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $12,796,000 after purchasing an additional 2,582 shares during the period. Brookstone Capital Management boosted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 8.9% during the 4th quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 26,444 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $13,377,000 after purchasing an additional 2,155 shares during the period. Trust Co. of Toledo NA OH lifted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 3.0% in the fourth quarter. Trust Co. of Toledo NA OH now owns 5,824 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $2,946,000 after buying an additional 170 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fiduciary Alliance LLC grew its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 260.7% during the fourth quarter. Fiduciary Alliance LLC now owns 9,893 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $5,005,000 after acquiring an additional 7,150 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.86% of the company’s stock.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 4.5 %

UNH traded up $23.38 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $544.07. 3,077,236 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,030,992. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a one year low of $436.38 and a one year high of $630.73. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $555.25 and its 200-day simple moving average is $562.50. The company has a market cap of $500.70 billion, a PE ratio of 35.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.91.

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

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 9th were paid a dividend of $2.10 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 9th. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.54%. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 54.72%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on UNH. KeyCorp assumed coverage on UnitedHealth Group in a report on Friday, October 11th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $675.00 price target on the stock. Bank of America decreased their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $675.00 to $650.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Stephens upped their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $605.00 to $675.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, December 5th. UBS Group dropped their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $680.00 to $650.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, HSBC upgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $595.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Friday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $626.79.

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.