Independent Wealth Network Inc. Buys 101 Shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Independent Wealth Network Inc. increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) by 27.8% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 464 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock after purchasing an additional 101 shares during the period. Independent Wealth Network Inc.’s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $235,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Wesbanco Bank Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 4.8% during the 4th quarter. Wesbanco Bank Inc. now owns 51,868 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $26,238,000 after acquiring an additional 2,365 shares during the period. Sharp Financial Services LLC increased its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 11.0% in the 4th quarter. Sharp Financial Services LLC now owns 885 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $447,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares during the last quarter. Phillips Wealth Planners LLC lifted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 4.4% during the 4th quarter. Phillips Wealth Planners LLC now owns 2,767 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $1,441,000 after buying an additional 117 shares during the last quarter. Kelleher Financial Advisors raised its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 1.3% during the fourth quarter. Kelleher Financial Advisors now owns 3,315 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock worth $1,677,000 after acquiring an additional 43 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Marino Stram & Associates LLC boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 4.4% in the 4th quarter. Marino Stram & Associates LLC now owns 758 shares of the healthcare conglomerate’s stock valued at $383,000 after purchasing an additional 32 shares in the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Timothy Patrick Flynn bought 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 17th. The stock was bought at an average price of $511.57 per share, for a total transaction of $511,570.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 4,500 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,302,065. This trade represents a 28.57 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.33% of the company’s stock.

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UNH opened at $528.94 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $543.52 and its 200-day moving average price is $563.78. The firm has a market capitalization of $486.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.12, a P/E/G ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 0.62. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 1-year low of $436.38 and a 1-year high of $630.73.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 16th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.81 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.74 by $0.07. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.69% and a net margin of 3.60%. The firm had revenue of $100.81 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $101.60 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $5.83 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.74 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, December 17th. Investors of record on Monday, December 9th were given a $2.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 9th. This represents a $8.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.59%. UnitedHealth Group’s payout ratio is 54.19%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently commented on UNH shares. Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $605.00 to $600.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 2nd. UBS Group reduced their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $680.00 to $650.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an “overweight” rating and set a $700.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Friday, January 17th. Oppenheimer lifted their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $610.00 to $640.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, December 6th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $595.00 to $625.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $627.74.

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.