UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Shares Sold by Berkshire Bank

Berkshire Bank lowered its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) by 0.3% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 6,705 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock after selling 21 shares during the period. Berkshire Bank’s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $3,392,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 16.5% in the 4th quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 56,265 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $28,462,000 after acquiring an additional 7,961 shares during the period. Heartland Bank & Trust Co boosted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 20.2% during the fourth quarter. Heartland Bank & Trust Co now owns 3,209 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $1,623,000 after buying an additional 539 shares during the period. James Hambro & Partners LLP lifted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. James Hambro & Partners LLP now owns 230,858 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $116,917,000 after acquiring an additional 3,434 shares in the last quarter. Curran Financial Partners LLC grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 24.5% in the 4th quarter. Curran Financial Partners LLC now owns 727 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $368,000 after acquiring an additional 143 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Parkside Investments LLC boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 5.6% in the fourth quarter. Parkside Investments LLC now owns 1,477 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $747,000 after purchasing an additional 78 shares during the period. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of UnitedHealth Group stock opened at $543.41 on Tuesday. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12 month low of $436.38 and a 12 month high of $630.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.83 and a quick ratio of 0.91. The stock has a market capitalization of $500.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.06, a PEG ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 0.62. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $541.04 and its 200-day simple moving average is $564.79.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.81 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.74 by $0.07. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 3.60% and a return on equity of 26.69%. The business had revenue of $100.81 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $101.60 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $5.83 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.74 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 9th were paid a $2.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 9th. This represents a $8.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.55%. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 54.19%.

Insider Transactions at UnitedHealth Group

In other UnitedHealth Group news, Director Timothy Patrick Flynn acquired 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 17th. The shares were bought at an average price of $511.57 per share, with a total value of $511,570.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 4,500 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,302,065. This trade represents a 28.57 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.33% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNH has been the subject of several research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $595.00 to $625.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 3rd. StockNews.com raised UnitedHealth Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Stephens upped their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $605.00 to $675.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $615.00 to $610.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, UBS Group decreased their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $680.00 to $650.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $627.74.

UnitedHealth Group 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.