UnitedHealth Group Incorporated $UNH Position Cut by Metis Global Partners LLC

Metis Global Partners LLC lessened its position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) by 5.9% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 48,030 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock after selling 3,010 shares during the period. Metis Global Partners LLC’s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $16,585,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Norges Bank bought a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $3,837,207,000. Berkshire Hathaway Inc bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the second quarter worth $1,572,193,000. Dodge & Cox raised its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 117.7% during the second quarter. Dodge & Cox now owns 8,750,560 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $2,729,912,000 after purchasing an additional 4,730,192 shares in the last quarter. Lone Pine Capital LLC bought a new position in UnitedHealth Group in the 2nd quarter valued at about $528,273,000. Finally, Amundi raised its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 33.8% during the 2nd quarter. Amundi now owns 6,191,871 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $1,904,372,000 after buying an additional 1,565,245 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.86% of the company’s stock.

Key UnitedHealth Group News

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

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

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

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last released its 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 company had revenue of $113.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $113.38 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $6.81 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 12.3% on a year-over-year basis. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.750- EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently commented on UNH shares. Truist Financial lowered their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $410.00 to $370.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Piper Sandler reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $411.00 to $409.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $425.00 to $389.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Barclays cut their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $391.00 to $327.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have given a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $372.13.

UnitedHealth Group 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.