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UnitedHealth (UNH)
NYSE:UNH

UnitedHealth (UNH) AI Stock Analysis

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UnitedHealth

(NYSE:UNH)

69Neutral
UnitedHealth's overall score reflects a solid financial position with strong revenue growth and effective cash management. However, declining profitability metrics and bearish technical indicators temper the outlook. The earnings call highlighted both growth opportunities and challenges, affecting sentiment. Valuation remains balanced, offering a moderate dividend yield. Overall, the company is well-positioned but faces near-term challenges.
Positive Factors
Earnings Growth
Analyst reiterates Buy recommendation as the company is expected to reprice in 2026 and grow earnings as OptumHealth improves.
Legal Outlook
The Special Master's report indicates that the burden of proof is on the DOJ to prove improper coding, undermining the government's case.
Stock Performance
UNH shares have increased approximately 16% year-to-date, outperforming the S&P 500.
Negative Factors
Financial Performance
OptumHealth earnings guide was cut by $3bn with higher Medicare Advantage trend resulting in health plan earnings cut by $1.5bn.
Medicare Advantage Costs
Management's commentary around lowered FY25G EPS was the real takeaway, pointing to MA cost trends far above the planned 2025 increase.
Medicare Funding Impact
The ongoing Medicare funding reduction is having a greater-than-expected impact on current and new complex patients in Optum Health.

UnitedHealth (UNH) vs. S&P 500 (SPY)

UnitedHealth Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionUnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. It 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 well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs for preventive and acute health care services, as well as services dealing with chronic disease and other specialized issues for older individuals; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; health and dental benefits; and hospital and clinical services. The OptumHealth segment provides access to networks of care provider specialists, health management services, care delivery, consumer engagement, and financial services. This segment serves individuals directly through care delivery systems, employers, payers, and government entities. The OptumInsight segment offers software and information products, advisory consulting arrangements, and managed services outsourcing contracts to hospital systems, physicians, health plans, governments, life sciences companies, and other organizations. The OptumRx segment provides pharmacy care services and programs, including retail network contracting, home delivery, specialty and compounding pharmacy, and purchasing and clinical capabilities, as well as develops programs in the areas of step therapy, formulary management, drug adherence, and disease/drug therapy management. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated was incorporated in 1977 and is based in Minnetonka, Minnesota.
How the Company Makes MoneyUnitedHealth Group makes money primarily through its two segments: UnitedHealthcare and Optum. UnitedHealthcare generates revenue by providing health insurance products and services, including commercial health plans for individuals and employers, Medicare and Medicaid plans, and global health services. This segment earns money through premiums, fees, and other revenues from its health plans. Optum contributes to UnitedHealth Group's revenue by offering a range of healthcare services. OptumHealth provides care delivery and management services, OptumInsight offers data analytics and consulting services, while OptumRx provides pharmacy care services. Revenue from Optum is derived from service fees, consulting fees, and pharmacy service revenues. The company also benefits from strategic partnerships and acquisitions that enhance its service offerings and expand its market reach.

UnitedHealth Financial Statement Overview

Summary
UnitedHealth exhibits strong revenue growth and solid cash flow management, but faces challenges with declining net profit margins and return on equity. The balance sheet remains robust with moderate leverage, providing a stable foundation for future growth. Focus should be on enhancing profitability and maximizing shareholder returns.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
UnitedHealth has demonstrated strong revenue growth with a consistent increase in total revenue over the years, reaching $400.3 billion in 2024 from $367.5 billion in 2023, resulting in a revenue growth rate of 8.9%. The gross profit margin slightly improved from 23.6% in 2023 to 22.3% in 2024, while EBIT margin remained stable at approximately 8.1%. The net profit margin decreased from 6.1% in 2023 to 3.6% in 2024, which indicates a potential area of concern. Overall, the company shows strong revenue growth trends but with a slight decrease in profitability.
Balance Sheet
80
Positive
UnitedHealth's balance sheet is robust with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74 in 2024, indicating moderate leverage. The equity ratio is 32.9%, showing a healthy balance of equity to total assets. Return on equity, however, decreased from 25.2% in 2023 to 14.7% in 2024, suggesting reduced profitability on shareholders' equity. Despite solid equity and asset management, the decline in ROE may indicate potential challenges in maximizing shareholder value.
Cash Flow
78
Positive
The company has maintained a positive free cash flow, although it decreased from $25.7 billion in 2023 to $20.7 billion in 2024, reflecting a free cash flow growth rate of -19.5%. The operating cash flow to net income ratio improved to 1.68 in 2024, indicating strong cash generation relative to net income. The free cash flow to net income ratio is 1.44, demonstrating effective cash flow management. Despite a decline in free cash flow growth, the overall cash flow position remains solid.
Breakdown
Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
400.28B367.53B322.13B285.27B255.64B
Gross Profit
89.40B86.87B77.59B67.33B65.50B
EBIT
32.29B32.36B28.43B23.97B22.41B
EBITDA
9.77B32.52B31.84B27.07B25.30B
Net Income Common Stockholders
14.40B22.38B20.12B17.29B15.40B
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
29.11B29.63B27.91B23.91B19.78B
Total Assets
298.28B273.72B245.71B212.21B197.29B
Total Debt
76.90B62.54B57.62B46.00B43.47B
Net Debt
51.59B37.11B34.26B24.63B26.55B
Total Liabilities
195.69B174.80B159.36B135.73B126.75B
Stockholders Equity
92.66B88.76B77.77B71.76B65.49B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
20.70B25.68B23.40B19.89B20.12B
Operating Cash Flow
24.20B29.07B26.21B22.34B22.17B
Investing Cash Flow
-20.53B-15.57B-28.48B-10.37B-12.53B
Financing Cash Flow
-3.51B-11.53B4.23B-7.46B-3.59B

UnitedHealth Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price454.11
Price Trends
50DMA
512.15
Negative
100DMA
524.48
Negative
200DMA
545.82
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
12.39
Positive
RSI
31.91
Neutral
STOCH
53.83
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For UNH, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 454.11 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 539.61, below the 50-day MA of 512.15, and below the 200-day MA of 545.82, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of 12.39 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 31.91 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 53.83 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for UNH.

UnitedHealth Risk Analysis

UnitedHealth disclosed 20 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. UnitedHealth reported the most risks in the “Legal & Regulatory” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

UnitedHealth Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (51)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
CVCVS
76
Outperform
$87.75B19.016.07%3.95%4.02%-43.51%
ELELV
74
Outperform
$99.57B17.1314.83%1.55%3.19%1.65%
CICI
73
Outperform
$89.52B27.237.87%1.73%25.21%-29.37%
CNCNC
72
Outperform
$31.68B10.2212.65%5.89%27.09%
HUHUM
69
Neutral
$35.61B29.557.40%1.34%10.70%-49.85%
UNUNH
69
Neutral
$548.34B38.6615.88%1.85%8.68%
51
Neutral
$5.19B3.13-40.94%2.95%17.94%2.00%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
UNH
UnitedHealth
454.11
-29.39
-6.08%
CNC
Centene
60.70
-14.88
-19.69%
CI
Cigna
330.13
-17.08
-4.92%
CVS
CVS Health
67.29
0.05
0.07%
HUM
Humana
264.48
-56.95
-17.72%
ELV
Elevance Health
424.53
-100.13
-19.08%

UnitedHealth Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date: Apr 17, 2025 | % Change Since: -22.38% | Next Earnings Date: Jul 16, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call reflected strong business growth in areas like Medicare Advantage and Optum Rx, but was overshadowed by challenges including unexpected increases in care activity and issues with Medicare member profiles, leading to a lowered earnings outlook.
Highlights
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Growth
UnitedHealthcare's Medicare Advantage business is on pace to serve an additional 800,000 people this year.
Optum Health Value-Based Care Expansion
Optum Health is on track to add 650,000 net new patients to value-based care arrangements.
Optum Rx Strong Performance
Optum Rx is experiencing a strong selling season with new wins and high retention of long-term customers, underscoring the value PBMs play in reducing drug prices.
Increased Digital Engagement
UnitedHealth Group's new tools have led to a more than 40% increase in digital engagement among senior members.
Lowlights
Unexpected Increase in Care Activity
First-quarter 2025 care activity in UnitedHealthcare's Medicare Advantage business increased at twice the planned rate, notably in physician and outpatient services.
Challenges with Medicare Member Profiles
Changes in Optum's Medicare membership profiles led to 2025 revenue impacts due to lower-than-expected engagement and reimbursement levels.
Higher Medical Care Ratio
The full-year medical care ratio is now expected to be 87.5%, reflecting higher utilization among senior populations and the revenue profile of Optum Health.
Disappointment in Adjusted Earnings Outlook
The adjusted earnings per share outlook for the year was revised to $26 to $26.50, lower than previously expected.
Company Guidance
During the UnitedHealth Group First Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call, CEO Andrew Witty provided guidance on several key metrics. The company revised its adjusted earnings per share outlook for the year to a range of $26 to $26.50, citing unusual performance issues primarily due to increased care activity and changes in member profiles in its Medicare businesses. UnitedHealthcare's Medicare Advantage business experienced a care activity increase that was twice the rate anticipated, particularly in physician and outpatient services. Despite these challenges, UnitedHealthcare is on track to serve an additional 800,000 people in Medicare Advantage, and Optum Health aims to add 650,000 net new patients to value-based care arrangements. The company's consolidated revenue outlook remains at $450 billion to $455 billion, with expected revenue increases in UnitedHealthcare and Optum Rx offsetting a reduced outlook for Optum Health. The full-year medical care ratio is projected at 87.5% plus or minus 50 basis points, reflecting higher utilization across senior populations. UnitedHealth Group remains committed to addressing these issues and returning to its long-term earnings per share growth target of 13% to 16%.

UnitedHealth Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
UnitedHealth Projects Strong Financial Outlook for 2025
Positive
Dec 3, 2024

UnitedHealth Group has released its financial outlook for 2025, projecting revenues between $450 billion and $455 billion, with net earnings per share ranging from $28.15 to $28.65. The company anticipates cash flows from operations to be around $32 billion to $33 billion. These projections are part of its strategic focus on improving health care delivery and efficiency, highlighted ahead of its Investor Conference.

Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.