Zacks Research Issues Positive Forecast for UNH Earnings

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) – Analysts at Zacks Research increased their Q1 2026 earnings per share estimates for UnitedHealth Group in a report issued on Tuesday, February 10th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the healthcare conglomerate will post earnings of $6.77 per share for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $5.67. The consensus estimate for UnitedHealth Group’s current full-year earnings is $29.54 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for UnitedHealth Group’s Q4 2026 earnings at $2.82 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $17.81 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $4.30 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $19.90 EPS.

UNH has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Oppenheimer lowered their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $415.00 to $385.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Evercore raised shares of UnitedHealth Group to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $418.00 to $340.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Piper Sandler restated an “overweight” rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $372.13.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 3.2%

Shares of NYSE UNH opened at $293.33 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 0.79 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $320.91 and its two-hundred day moving average is $322.88. UnitedHealth Group has a 12-month low of $234.60 and a 12-month high of $606.36. The company has a market capitalization of $265.71 billion, a PE ratio of 22.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 0.41.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $2.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.09 by $0.02. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 14.79% and a net margin of 2.69%.The business had revenue of $113.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $113.38 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $6.81 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 12.3% on a year-over-year basis. UnitedHealth Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.750- EPS.

Institutional Trading of UnitedHealth Group

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 176.2% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 44,249 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $22,384,000 after buying an additional 28,231 shares during the period. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 137.1% during the fourth quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 4,019 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $2,033,000 after purchasing an additional 2,324 shares during the last quarter. CMT Capital Markets Trading GmbH acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $340,000. Acorn Financial Advisory Services Inc. ADV lifted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 12.5% in the second quarter. Acorn Financial Advisory Services Inc. ADV now owns 704 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $219,000 after buying an additional 78 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bayforest Capital Ltd increased its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 390.9% in the 2nd quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd now owns 270 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $84,000 after acquiring an additional 215 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.86% of the company’s stock.

Key UnitedHealth Group News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Positive analyst revisions and forecasts — Zacks lifted several near‑term EPS estimates (notably Q1 2026) and issued a more constructive earnings outlook for FY2026/2027, supporting the view that earnings could rebound despite recent volatility. Zacks Research Issues Positive Forecast for UNH Earnings
• Positive Sentiment: Business strength from Optum expansion — coverage highlights that Optum continues to expand its services and platform, which supports UnitedHealth’s long‑term growth thesis and helps explain why some investors are buying the dip. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) Strengthens Healthcare Platform Through Optum Expansion
• Neutral Sentiment: Mizuho trims price target but keeps Outperform — the firm cut its UNH target to $350 (from $430) after Q4 results but retained an Outperform rating, a mixed signal that reduces upside expectations but leaves institutional conviction intact. Mizuho Lowers UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) Target to $350, Maintains Outperform Rating
• Negative Sentiment: Ongoing policy and cost worries — coverage warns that a flat Medicare Advantage rate outlook and elevated medical inflation could compress margins and limit premium increases, a key reason for recent selling pressure. Flat Medicare Advantage Outlook And Revenue Drop Might Change The Case For Investing In UNH
• Negative Sentiment: Fundamental caution from independent analysis — a Seeking Alpha piece re‑examines risks (medical cost inflation, government funding constraints, delayed Optum margin recovery) and argues the current valuation may already price in higher volatility. UnitedHealth: 3 Reasons Not To Buy (Revisited)
• Negative Sentiment: Market commentary questioning further downside — analysts and writers note the recent ~18% pullback over several weeks and debate whether weakness is temporary or signals deeper issues, keeping sentiment fragile. Is There More Downside To UNH Stock?

About UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group Inc is a diversified health care company headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, that operates two primary business platforms: UnitedHealthcare and Optum. Founded in 1977, the company provides a broad range of health benefits and health care services to individuals, employers, governmental entities and other organizations. Its operations span commercial employer-sponsored plans, individual and Medicare and Medicaid programs, and services for customers and health systems in the United States and selected international markets.

UnitedHealthcare is the company’s benefits business, administering health plans and networks, managing provider relationships, and offering coverage products for employers, individuals, and government-sponsored programs.