VCI Wealth Management LLC Takes $970,000 Position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

VCI Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 1,843 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock, valued at approximately $970,000.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Abbrea Capital LLC raised its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 3.3% in the fourth quarter. Abbrea Capital LLC now owns 7,645 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $4,025,000 after buying an additional 245 shares in the last quarter. Syon Capital LLC grew its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 30.7% in the fourth quarter. Syon Capital LLC now owns 12,911 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $6,797,000 after purchasing an additional 3,033 shares during the last quarter. Meritage Portfolio Management boosted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 6.6% during the fourth quarter. Meritage Portfolio Management now owns 15,848 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $8,343,000 after acquiring an additional 988 shares during the last quarter. Lyell Wealth Management LP boosted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 8.0% during the fourth quarter. Lyell Wealth Management LP now owns 6,350 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $3,343,000 after acquiring an additional 470 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Disciplined Equity Management Inc. boosted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 14.1% during the fourth quarter. Disciplined Equity Management Inc. now owns 2,254 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $1,187,000 after acquiring an additional 279 shares during the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 1.4 %

UNH stock traded up $6.58 during trading on Thursday, reaching $493.88. The stock had a trading volume of 4,329,383 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,530,458. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a one year low of $436.38 and a one year high of $554.70. The company’s 50 day moving average is $486.90 and its two-hundred day moving average is $514.57. The company has a market capitalization of $454.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.20, a P/E/G ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, April 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.63 by $0.28. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 4.05% and a return on equity of 26.50%. The firm had revenue of $99.80 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $99.23 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $6.26 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.61 EPS for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 19th. Investors of record on Monday, March 11th were issued a $1.88 dividend. This represents a $7.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.52%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 8th. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 45.97%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UNH has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. StockNews.com cut shares of UnitedHealth Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 18th. Bank of America reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $675.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Thursday, March 7th. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $534.00 to $560.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 17th. Stephens reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $605.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Thursday, February 8th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $618.00 to $584.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 5th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, UnitedHealth Group has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $570.05.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other UnitedHealth Group news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,236 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $483.48, for a total value of $597,581.28. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,364 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,527,306.72. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other UnitedHealth Group news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,236 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $483.48, for a total value of $597,581.28. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,364 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,527,306.72. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CAO Thomas E. Roos sold 858 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $525.79, for a total transaction of $451,127.82. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 32,289 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,977,233.31. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.35% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.