UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Shares Sold by Smith Salley Wealth Management

Smith Salley Wealth Management cut its stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) by 1.1% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,603 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock after selling 40 shares during the quarter. Smith Salley Wealth Management’s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $1,823,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Financial Management Professionals Inc. raised its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 4.3% in the 4th quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 2,207 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $1,116,000 after purchasing an additional 91 shares during the last quarter. Raub Brock Capital Management LP lifted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1.2% in the fourth quarter. Raub Brock Capital Management LP now owns 32,629 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $16,506,000 after buying an additional 393 shares in the last quarter. Triangle Securities Wealth Management grew its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 18.6% during the 4th quarter. Triangle Securities Wealth Management now owns 4,887 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $2,472,000 after acquiring an additional 767 shares in the last quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 51,986 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $26,298,000 after purchasing an additional 1,029 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Trust Co. of Vermont lifted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 9.1% during the fourth quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 38,993 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $19,725,000 after buying an additional 3,268 shares in the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Down 0.1 %

UNH stock opened at $510.03 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 0.91. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $436.38 and a fifty-two week high of $630.73. The firm has a market capitalization of $469.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.23, a PEG ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.62. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $549.37 and its 200 day moving average price is $562.73.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.81 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.74 by $0.07. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.37% and a net margin of 3.63%. The firm had revenue of $100.81 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $101.60 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $5.83 earnings per share. UnitedHealth Group’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.6 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Investors of record on Monday, December 9th were given a $2.10 dividend. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.65%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 9th. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 54.72%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently commented on UNH. KeyCorp reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $650.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Friday. Morgan Stanley cut 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. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $595.00 to $625.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 3rd. Barclays lowered their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $655.00 to $642.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday. Finally, Stephens increased 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. Two equities 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 stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $627.74.

UnitedHealth Group Company 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.