Simplify Asset Management Inc. Lowers Position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Simplify Asset Management Inc. reduced its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) by 40.8% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 12,057 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock after selling 8,315 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group accounts for about 0.3% of Simplify Asset Management Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 21st biggest position. Simplify Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $6,099,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Mosley Wealth Management grew its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 9.5% in the fourth quarter. Mosley Wealth Management now owns 1,400 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $753,000 after acquiring an additional 121 shares in the last quarter. Focused Investors LLC grew its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 4.1% in the 4th quarter. Focused Investors LLC now owns 426,600 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $215,800,000 after purchasing an additional 16,950 shares during the period. Guardian Partners Inc. bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth $9,951,000. Fortis Capital Management LLC grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 6.3% during the fourth quarter. Fortis Capital Management LLC now owns 9,480 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $4,796,000 after buying an additional 560 shares during the period. Finally, KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter worth about $157,543,000. 87.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 1.3 %

UNH stock opened at $517.72 on Friday. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 1-year low of $436.38 and a 1-year high of $630.73. The stock has a market cap of $473.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.62. 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 company’s 50 day moving average is $510.19 and its 200 day moving average is $547.11.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.74 by $0.07. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 3.60% and a return on equity of 26.69%. The company had revenue of $100.81 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $101.60 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $5.83 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 10th were given a dividend of $2.10 per share. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.62%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 10th. UnitedHealth Group’s payout ratio is currently 54.19%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on UNH shares. Stephens lifted their price target 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. Oppenheimer upped their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $610.00 to $640.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, December 6th. KeyCorp reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $650.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Friday, January 17th. Barclays reduced their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $655.00 to $642.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Finally, Hsbc Global Res raised shares of UnitedHealth Group from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. Twenty analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $629.32.

Insider Transactions at UnitedHealth Group

In related news, Director Timothy Patrick Flynn acquired 1,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 17th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $511.57 per share, for a total transaction of $511,570.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 4,500 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,302,065. This represents a 28.57 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 0.33% of the company’s stock.

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.