UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Shares Acquired by Retirement Systems of Alabama

Retirement Systems of Alabama grew its holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) by 1.4% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 458,403 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock after purchasing an additional 6,156 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group comprises 1.0% of Retirement Systems of Alabama’s portfolio, making the stock its 14th largest holding. Retirement Systems of Alabama’s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $241,335,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Meridian Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 9.2% during the fourth quarter. Meridian Wealth Partners LLC now owns 750 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $395,000 after acquiring an additional 63 shares in the last quarter. Magnus Financial Group LLC increased its position in UnitedHealth Group by 8.0% in the 4th quarter. Magnus Financial Group LLC now owns 4,486 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $2,362,000 after acquiring an additional 331 shares in the last quarter. Convergence Investment Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 4.4% during the fourth quarter. Convergence Investment Partners LLC now owns 2,521 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $1,327,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. Little House Capital LLC increased its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 2.4% in the fourth quarter. Little House Capital LLC now owns 8,707 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $4,584,000 after purchasing an additional 204 shares in the last quarter. Finally, RiverFront Investment Group LLC lifted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 5.9% during the 4th quarter. RiverFront Investment Group LLC now owns 20,985 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $11,048,000 after buying an additional 1,161 shares in the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. Stephens reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $605.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. TD Cowen reduced their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $607.00 to $546.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 10th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $591.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Wednesday, April 10th. Oppenheimer reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $610.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. Finally, Truist Financial reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $600.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Wednesday, April 17th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $570.05.

Insider Activity at UnitedHealth Group

In related news, CAO Thomas E. Roos sold 858 shares of UnitedHealth Group 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 transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 32,289 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,977,233.31. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,236 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 8th. The stock was 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 $4,527,306.72. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CAO Thomas E. Roos sold 858 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated 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 $16,977,233.31. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.35% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of UNH traded up $1.49 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $495.35. 2,727,016 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,623,667. The stock has a market cap of $455.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.28, a P/E/G ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 0.85. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 1 year low of $436.38 and a 1 year high of $554.70. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $485.84 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $514.14.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping 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 company had revenue of $99.80 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $99.23 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $6.26 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.61 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 19th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 11th were given a $1.88 dividend. This represents a $7.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.52%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 8th. UnitedHealth Group’s payout ratio is 45.97%.

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.