UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Stock Has Average Price Target of $462.59 According to Brokerages

Shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-eight analysts that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $461.48.

A number of research firms have weighed in on UNH. Bank of America reissued a “buy” rating and set a $450.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Monday, July 20th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $370.00 to $467.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, July 17th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $397.00 to $485.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, August 8th.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other UnitedHealth Group news, CEO Patrick Conway sold 1,169 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $390.00, for a total transaction of $455,910.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 15,328 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,977,920. This trade represents a 7.09% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.19% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in UNH. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 4.6% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 76,863,061 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $31,946,594,000 after purchasing an additional 3,395,530 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 0.7% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 45,633,267 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $18,966,555,000 after acquiring an additional 301,081 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 6.1% in the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 10,704,994 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $4,449,317,000 after acquiring an additional 616,723 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 5.8% during the second quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 10,675,175 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $4,436,923,000 after acquiring an additional 583,536 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Corient Private Wealth LP raised its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 1,443.7% in the 2nd quarter. Corient Private Wealth LP now owns 8,447,224 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $3,510,920,000 after purchasing an additional 7,900,011 shares during the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of UNH opened at $407.45 on Tuesday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $387.17 and a 200-day simple moving average of $384.52. The stock has a market capitalization of $365.72 billion, a PE ratio of 23.27, a PEG ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 0.60. UnitedHealth Group has a 1 year low of $255.96 and a 1 year high of $461.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 0.74.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 13th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $4.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.14 by $0.55. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 3.53% and a return on equity of 17.95%. The company had revenue of $112.70 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $111.31 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.59 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down .4% on a year-over-year basis. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 20.500- EPS. On average, analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group will post 20.66 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 22nd. Investors of record on Monday, September 14th were issued a dividend of $2.32 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 14th. This represents a $9.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 53.00%.

Key Stories Impacting UnitedHealth Group

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q3 earnings beat expectations: UnitedHealth reported adjusted EPS of $4.69 versus the $4.14 consensus estimate and revenue of $112.7 billion versus $111.31 billion expected. Revenue was roughly flat year over year, but profitability improved significantly. UnitedHealth Stock Moves Higher: What’s Going On?
• Positive Sentiment: Higher earnings outlook: Management raised its 2026 adjusted earnings forecast to at least $20.50 per share, above its previous $19.50–$20.00 range. The guidance increase was the primary catalyst for the stock’s upward move. UnitedHealth Group gains after Q3 beat and higher 2026 outlook
• Positive Sentiment: Margin recovery signals: The medical care ratio improved to 88.4%, while Optum generated $3.7 billion in earnings. Analysts also cited pricing discipline, benefit changes, care-delivery improvements and AI initiatives as potential supports for stronger 2027 growth. UNH Q3 Deep Dive: Margin Recovery and AI Initiatives Shape 2027 Outlook
• Positive Sentiment: Constructive analyst views: Goldman Sachs reportedly raised its price target to $506, while Piper Sandler maintained an overweight rating and lifted its target to $504. Mizuho also continues to view UNH as a top healthcare pick. Goldman Sachs raises UNH target price to $506
• Neutral Sentiment: Defensive appeal: UnitedHealth is being highlighted as a low-beta healthcare stock that could benefit from investor demand for defensive companies if inflation and energy costs remain elevated. 3 Low-Beta Defensive Stocks to Buy as Inflation Continues to Surge
• Negative Sentiment: Growth risks remain: Analysts flagged shrinking membership, pressure from commercial medical costs and Medicaid, and uncertainty surrounding Medicare participation. TD Cowen reaffirmed a hold rating with a $402 target, while other firms reduced targets despite maintaining generally positive ratings. UnitedHealth Beats on Earnings, But Investors Question Growth Path

About UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE: UNH) is a diversified health care and well-being company serving individuals, employers, health care providers and government programs. Its operations are organized primarily through UnitedHealthcare and Optum.

UnitedHealthcare provides health benefit plans and services, including employer-sponsored coverage, individual and family plans, Medicare and Medicaid offerings, and other government-supported programs. Its services include health insurance administration, pharmacy benefits and care management.

Optum provides health care services, technology and data solutions, pharmacy services, and analytics to health plans, employers, government agencies, health care providers and consumers.