Marcum Wealth LLC Decreases Stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Marcum Wealth LLC lowered its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) by 1.4% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,559 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock after selling 66 shares during the period. Marcum Wealth LLC’s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $2,306,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. First Financial Corp IN increased its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 3.5% in the fourth quarter. First Financial Corp IN now owns 2,001 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $1,012,000 after buying an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. PFW Advisors LLC purchased a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $1,527,000. Marion Wealth Management lifted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 2.5% in the fourth quarter. Marion Wealth Management now owns 5,261 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $2,661,000 after purchasing an additional 129 shares in the last quarter. Courier Capital LLC increased its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Courier Capital LLC now owns 4,193 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $2,121,000 after purchasing an additional 32 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sunflower Bank N.A. lifted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 9.8% in the 4th quarter. Sunflower Bank N.A. now owns 1,743 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $882,000 after buying an additional 156 shares in the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 4.0 %

Shares of UnitedHealth Group stock opened at $541.28 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $554.92 and a 200 day moving average price of $562.88. The stock has a market cap of $498.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 0.62. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a twelve month low of $436.38 and a twelve month high of $630.73. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 15th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.15 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $7.00 by $0.15. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.37% and a net margin of 3.63%. The firm had revenue of $100.82 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $99.14 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $6.56 EPS. UnitedHealth Group’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 9th were issued a $2.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 9th. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.55%. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 54.72%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UNH has been the topic of several recent research reports. Barclays upped their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $603.00 to $655.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. Hsbc Global Res downgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, October 17th. Stephens raised their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $605.00 to $675.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. Oppenheimer increased their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $610.00 to $640.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, December 6th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $615.00 to $595.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $626.79.

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.