UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Updates FY 2026 Earnings Guidance

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) issued an update on its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided EPS guidance of 19.500-20.000 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 18.370. The company issued revenue guidance of -, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $444.2 billion.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 1.1%

UNH stock opened at $423.27 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The company’s 50 day moving average is $403.87 and its 200 day moving average is $341.69. The stock has a market cap of $384.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 0.62. UnitedHealth Group has a 1-year low of $234.60 and a 1-year high of $461.62.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.87 by $1.51. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 2.68% and a return on equity of 14.65%. The business had revenue of $112.03 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $110.81 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $4.08 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up .4% compared to the same quarter last year. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 19.500-20.000 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group will post 18.39 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 23rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 15th were given a dividend of $2.32 per share. This represents a $9.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 15th. This is an increase from UnitedHealth Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $2.21. UnitedHealth Group’s payout ratio is currently 70.09%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UNH has been the subject of several analyst reports. Leerink Partners increased their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $400.00 to $462.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, June 17th. TD Cowen increased their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $337.00 to $430.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday. Oppenheimer upped their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $385.00 to $405.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 22nd. HC Wainwright set a $492.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Wednesday, May 27th. Finally, Argus raised shares of UnitedHealth Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $400.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 22nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have assigned a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $438.92.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Patrick Hugh Conway sold 800 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $355.00, for a total transaction of $284,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 17,805 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,320,775. The trade was a 4.30% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.28% of the company’s stock.

Key UnitedHealth Group News

Here are the key news stories impacting UnitedHealth Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: UnitedHealth’s Q2 results beat expectations on both earnings and revenue, driven by better cost control and stronger performance at Optum. UnitedHealth Group Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: The company raised its 2026 profit guidance and said it is on track for at least $5 billion in share repurchases this year, signaling confidence in cash generation. UnitedHealth raises 2026 forecast as it controls medical costs
• Positive Sentiment: Management said the turnaround is gaining momentum, which boosted optimism that earnings recovery could continue into the second half of the year. UnitedHealth blows past estimates, hikes earnings outlook as it reins in costs
• Neutral Sentiment: Robert W. Baird raised UNH to Neutral and increased its price target, reflecting a more balanced view after the rally. UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Rating Increased to Neutral at Robert W. Baird
• Negative Sentiment: Some commentary cautioned that elevated medical-cost pressures still remain a risk for managed-care peers and for UNH’s margin outlook. Why Elevance Earnings Gave Health Insurance Stocks A Cold; UNH Up Next

Institutional Trading of UnitedHealth Group

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Wilkerson Advisory Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the fourth quarter valued at about $30,000. Altshuler Shaham Ltd bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter worth about $33,000. Imprint Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the third quarter valued at $33,000. Riggs Asset Managment Co. Inc. lifted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 69.4% during the 2nd quarter. Riggs Asset Managment Co. Inc. now owns 105 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 43 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Swiss RE Ltd. bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter worth $35,000. 87.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

UnitedHealth Group Company Profile

UnitedHealth Group Inc is a diversified health care company headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, that operates two primary business platforms: UnitedHealthcare and Optum. Founded in 1977, the company provides a broad range of health benefits and health care services to individuals, employers, governmental entities and other organizations. Its operations span commercial employer-sponsored plans, individual and Medicare and Medicaid programs, and services for customers and health systems in the United States and selected international markets.

UnitedHealthcare is the company’s benefits business, administering health plans and networks, managing provider relationships, and offering coverage products for employers, individuals, and government-sponsored programs.