Smithbridge Asset Management Inc. DE Purchases 880 Shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Smithbridge Asset Management Inc. DE boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) by 4.1% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 22,429 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock after acquiring an additional 880 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group accounts for about 2.3% of Smithbridge Asset Management Inc. DE’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 9th largest position. Smithbridge Asset Management Inc. DE’s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $13,114,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in UNH. Trilogy Capital Inc. acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the first quarter valued at approximately $233,000. Diversified Trust Co increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 2.3% during the first quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 44,775 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $22,151,000 after purchasing an additional 1,021 shares during the last quarter. BKM Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 34.7% in the 1st quarter. BKM Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,157 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $2,551,000 after purchasing an additional 1,328 shares during the last quarter. Horizon Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 4.5% in the first quarter. Horizon Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,177 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $582,000 after purchasing an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Little House Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 33.2% in the 1st quarter. Little House Capital LLC now owns 11,595 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $5,736,000 after buying an additional 2,888 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.86% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have issued reports on UNH. Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $615.00 to $595.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. StockNews.com downgraded UnitedHealth Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday. Argus raised their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $570.00 to $600.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 17th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $525.00 to $630.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 17th. Finally, UBS Group cut their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $680.00 to $650.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $615.53.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 0.3 %

UNH opened at $566.42 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.88. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $583.52 and a 200-day moving average price of $538.58. The firm has a market capitalization of $523.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 0.58. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a one year low of $436.38 and a one year high of $608.63.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 15th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.15 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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 last year, the company earned $6.56 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 9.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 24th. Investors of record on Monday, September 16th were paid a dividend of $2.10 per share. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.48%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 16th. UnitedHealth Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 54.72%.

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.