CENTRAL TRUST Co Sells 7,239 Shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated $UNH

CENTRAL TRUST Co reduced its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) by 16.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 35,576 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock after selling 7,239 shares during the quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co’s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $12,285,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. IMA Advisory Services Inc. lifted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 4.4% in the third quarter. IMA Advisory Services Inc. now owns 5,245 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $1,811,000 after buying an additional 221 shares during the last quarter. Missouri Trust & Investment Co lifted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 23.5% in the 3rd quarter. Missouri Trust & Investment Co now owns 6,019 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $2,078,000 after acquiring an additional 1,146 shares during the last quarter. GFS Advisors LLC grew its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 185.7% during the 3rd quarter. GFS Advisors LLC now owns 41,432 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $14,306,000 after purchasing an additional 26,932 shares during the last quarter. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group in the third quarter worth about $414,000. Finally, Assetmark Inc. grew its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 15.8% during the third quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 153,961 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $53,163,000 after buying an additional 20,986 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.86% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Barclays dropped their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $391.00 to $327.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $425.00 to $389.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 2nd. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $335.00 to $338.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Oppenheimer dropped their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $415.00 to $385.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $372.13.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of UNH stock opened at $284.37 on Friday. The company’s 50 day moving average is $321.66 and its 200 day moving average is $322.80. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. The firm has a market cap of $257.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.56, a PEG ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 0.41. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 52-week low of $234.60 and a 52-week high of $606.36.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $2.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.09 by $0.02. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 14.79% and a net margin of 2.69%.The business had revenue of $113.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $113.38 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $6.81 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 12.3% compared to the same quarter last year. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.750- EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Key Stories Impacting UnitedHealth Group

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

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research raised several near‑ and medium‑term EPS forecasts (notably Q1 2026, FY2026 and FY2027) and lifted some quarterly estimates, signaling analysts see better-than-expected earnings cadence ahead. This helped stabilize sentiment after the post‑earnings pullback. Zacks Research estimate revisions
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage highlighting Optum expansion/long‑term platform strength frames UNH as a long‑term compounder — a bullish narrative that supports buyers on weakness. Optum expansion supports long-term thesis
• Neutral Sentiment: Mizuho cut its price target to $350 from $430 but maintained an Outperform rating — a mixed signal that keeps institutional support but narrows upside expectations. Mizuho target cut, Outperform retained
• Negative Sentiment: Coverage reiterating core risks: medical‑cost inflation, government/Medicare Advantage funding constraints, and regulatory pressure — analysts argue current multiples already price in increased volatility and a delayed Optum margin recovery (not expected until 2027). That narrative has been a major driver of recent selling pressure. Seeking Alpha: 3 Reasons Not To Buy (Revisited)
• Negative Sentiment: Forbes flags that UNH has fallen sharply over recent weeks as investor worry about flat MA rates and rising medical costs reignites — the piece questions whether the move reflects temporary overreaction or deeper issues. That market fear has pressured the stock. Forbes: Is there more downside to UNH stock?
• Negative Sentiment: News that a flatter Medicare Advantage outlook and a revenue drop could alter the investment case is keeping downside risk front‑of‑mind for traders focused on 2026 reimbursement dynamics. Yahoo Finance: Flat Medicare Advantage outlook
• Negative Sentiment: Separate commentary notes investor concerns about returns on capital — a governance/efficiency angle that can temper valuation support if not addressed. Yahoo Finance: Returns on capital concerns

About UnitedHealth Group

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.