GAMMA Investing LLC Grows Stock Holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) by 11.3% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,309 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock after buying an additional 538 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group makes up 0.5% of GAMMA Investing LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 25th biggest holding. GAMMA Investing LLC’s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $2,626,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Paralel Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Paralel Advisors LLC now owns 4,047 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $2,040,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. Aigen Investment Management LP purchased a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 3rd quarter valued at $278,000. Interchange Capital Partners LLC grew its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 11.9% during the 3rd quarter. Interchange Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,657 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $835,000 after purchasing an additional 176 shares in the last quarter. Rathbones Group PLC grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 15,485.0% in the third quarter. Rathbones Group PLC now owns 147,746 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $74,492,000 after acquiring an additional 146,798 shares in the last quarter. Finally, V Square Quantitative Management LLC grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 15.0% in the third quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 2,098 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $1,058,000 after acquiring an additional 273 shares in the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Down 1.7 %

Shares of UnitedHealth Group stock opened at $481.05 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $442.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 0.58. The company’s 50 day moving average is $495.26 and its 200 day moving average is $504.85. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a twelve month low of $436.38 and a twelve month high of $554.70. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.63 by $0.28. The company had revenue of $99.80 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $99.23 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 4.05% and a return on equity of 26.50%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $6.26 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.57 EPS for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 25th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 17th will be given a $2.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 17th. This is an increase from UnitedHealth Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.88. This represents a $8.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.75%. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 51.34%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $600.00 to $525.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 8th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $618.00 to $584.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 5th. Robert W. Baird started coverage on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Thursday, May 30th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $597.00 price target for the company. Finally, TD Cowen decreased their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $607.00 to $546.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 10th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $579.74.

About UnitedHealth Group

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.