UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Trading Up 3.7% After Dividend Announcement

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)’s share price shot up 3.7% during trading on Wednesday after the company announced a dividend. The stock traded as high as $284.74 and last traded at $284.1060. 11,348,800 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 8% from the average session volume of 10,460,435 shares. The stock had previously closed at $273.95.

The newly announced dividend which will be paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 9th will be paid a $2.21 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 9th. This represents a $8.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.1%. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio is presently 67.02%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently commented on the company. TD Cowen boosted their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $335.00 to $338.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $418.00 to $340.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Mizuho reduced their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $430.00 to $350.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Barclays cut their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $391.00 to $327.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, UBS Group dropped their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $430.00 to $410.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $372.13.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $314.46 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $325.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.79. The stock has a market capitalization of $257.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.54, a PEG ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 0.41.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $2.11 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 firm had revenue of $113.73 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $113.38 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $6.81 EPS. 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 analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 EPS for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Board approved a quarterly cash dividend of $2.21 per share (record Mar 9, pay Mar 17), implying a ~3.1% yield — a cash-return action that typically supports the share price and signals commitment to shareholders. UnitedHealth Group Board Authorizes Payment of Quarterly Dividend
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts note UNH has underperformed the Dow and its recent valuation has weakened after prolonged share weakness; some analysts remain cautiously optimistic but view the current price as reflecting elevated near-term risks. Is UnitedHealth Stock Underperforming the Dow?
• Negative Sentiment: UNH has plunged about 23% in under a month after the company issued disappointing 2026 guidance and the U.S. administration proposed essentially flat 2027 Medicare reimbursement increases (~0.09%), a regulatory shock that materially worsened investor earnings outlooks. Is The Bottom In For UNH Stock After Its Dramatic 23% Slide?
• Negative Sentiment: UnitedHealthcare (UNH’s core segment) saw revenue growth but sharply compressed adjusted operating earnings (down ~41%) as medical costs surged and Medicare funding pressures hit margins — a trend that threatens near‑term profitability unless repricing and cost control accelerate. UnitedHealthcare Under Pressure: Can UNH’s Core Business Rebound?
• Negative Sentiment: Recent trading updates and market commentaries note continued downside momentum versus the broader market, reflecting investor concern over guidance, margin pressure and policy risk. UnitedHealth Group (UNH) Dips More Than Broader Market: What You Should Know

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the fourth quarter valued at $4,376,167,000. Capital Research Global Investors raised its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 126.9% during the third quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 13,042,049 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $4,503,419,000 after acquiring an additional 7,293,009 shares during the last quarter. Berkshire Hathaway Inc acquired a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $1,572,193,000. Dodge & Cox boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 117.7% in the 2nd 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 during the last quarter. Finally, Capital World Investors raised its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 18.8% during the third quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 21,766,922 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $7,516,107,000 after buying an additional 3,439,182 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.86% of the company’s stock.

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.