UnitedHealth shares rise after second-quarter beat and higher 2026 outlook

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) is up 4.4% today. Here is some analysis on what might have caused this price movement.

Analysis: The most likely driver is a strong second-quarter earnings report paired with higher full-year guidance, which signaled better-than-feared operating momentum. Investor sentiment may also be getting help from fresh company disclosures aimed at reducing concern around Medicare Advantage coding and oversight.

Details:

UnitedHealth said second-quarter 2026 revenue was $112.0 billion, with earnings of $6.04 per share and adjusted earnings of $6.38 per share.

The company raised its full-year 2026 outlook to $18.45 to $18.95 per share, and lifted adjusted earnings guidance to $19.50 to $20.00 per share.

Management described the stronger outlook as a result of year-to-date performance and a better view for the rest of 2026, which likely reassured investors after prior uncertainty around the business.

UnitedHealth also published a July 2026 update on its independent review program, saying all 23 previously announced improvements had been completed and that a HouseCalls coding review found most sampled diagnoses were supported by records or paid claims.

Sources:

UnitedHealth Group, SEC, Investing.com

Disclaimer: This price movement analysis was generated with the help of AI. Please double-check the information provided for mistakes.

EARLY ACCESS

Receive UNH Data Alerts

Real-time alerts on filings, insider trades, and market signals — before everyone else.

Get Alerts →

$UNH Hedge Fund Activity

We have seen 1,301 institutional investors add shares of $UNH stock to their portfolio, and 1,595 decrease their positions in their most recent quarter.

Here are some of the largest recent moves:

CHARLES SCHWAB INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC added 12,377,403 shares (+146.6%) to their portfolio in Q1 2026, for an estimated $3,327,664,796
CAPITAL RESEARCH GLOBAL INVESTORS added 10,850,420 shares (+173.3%) to their portfolio in Q1 2026, for an estimated $2,917,135,417
CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS removed 9,653,799 shares (-51.7%) from their portfolio in Q1 2026, for an estimated $2,595,423,861
WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT GROUP LLP removed 5,597,135 shares (-35.7%) from their portfolio in Q1 2026, for an estimated $1,504,789,744
CAPITAL WORLD INVESTORS added 5,192,373 shares (+23.0%) to their portfolio in Q1 2026, for an estimated $1,395,969,481
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC removed 5,039,564 shares (-100.0%) from their portfolio in Q1 2026, for an estimated $1,354,886,781
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA removed 2,749,844 shares (-34.1%) from their portfolio in Q1 2026, for an estimated $739,295,559

To track hedge funds' stock portfolios, check out Quiver Quantitative's institutional holdings dashboard. You can access data on hedge funds moves and 13F filings through the Quiver Quantitative API 13F endpoint.

$UNH Government Contracts

We have seen $14,786,339,594 of award payments to $UNH over the last year.

Here are some of the awards which we have have seen pay out the most over the last year:

EXPRESS REPORT: R3 FY25 3RD QTR APRIL: $830,362,703
EXPRESS REPORT: R3 FY25 3RD QTR MAY: $819,320,444
EXPRESS REPORT: R3 FY25 2ND QTR MARCH: $791,841,212

To track government contracts to publicy traded companies, check out Quiver Quantitative's government contracts dashboard. You can access data on government contracts through the Quiver Quantitative API government contracts endpoint.

$UNH Congressional Stock Trading

Members of Congress have traded $UNH stock 12 times in the past 6 months. Of those trades, 8 have been purchases and 4 have been sales.

Here’s a breakdown of recent trading of $UNH stock by members of Congress over the last 6 months:

REPRESENTATIVE RICHARD MCCORMICK has traded it 3 times. They made 1 purchase worth up to $15,000 on 03/19 and 2 sales worth up to $30,000 on 06/12.
SENATOR JOHN BOOZMAN purchased up to $15,000 on 06/04.
REPRESENTATIVE MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR has traded it 3 times. They made 2 purchases worth up to $30,000 on 04/22 and 1 sale worth up to $15,000 on 06/04.
REPRESENTATIVE GILBERT RAY CISNEROS, JR. has traded it 3 times. They made 2 purchases worth up to $30,000 on 04/14, 03/13 and 1 sale worth up to $50,000 on 02/10.
SENATOR MARKWAYNE MULLIN purchased up to $100,000 on 02/25.
REPRESENTATIVE JOSH GOTTHEIMER purchased up to $15,000 on 02/05.

To track congressional stock trading, check out Quiver Quantitative's congressional trading dashboard. You can access data on congressional stock trades through the Quiver Quantitative API Congress trades endpoint.

$UNH Analyst Ratings

Wall Street analysts have issued reports on $UNH in the last several months. We have seen 6 firms issue buy ratings on the stock, and 0 firms issue sell ratings.

Here are some recent analyst ratings:

Mizuho issued a "Outperform" rating on 02/05/2026
Truist Securities issued a "Buy" rating on 02/02/2026
Barclays issued a "Overweight" rating on 01/30/2026
Wells Fargo issued a "Overweight" rating on 01/30/2026
Jefferies issued a "Buy" rating on 01/28/2026
Leerink Partners issued a "Outperform" rating on 01/28/2026

To track analyst ratings and price targets for $UNH, check out Quiver Quantitative's $UNH forecast page.

$UNH Price Targets

Multiple analysts have issued price targets for $UNH recently. We have seen 20 analysts offer price targets for $UNH in the last 6 months, with a median target of $419.0.

Here are some recent targets:

Ben Hendrix from RBC Capital set a target price of $463.0 on 07/09/2026
Sidharth Sahoo from HSBC set a target price of $380.0 on 07/06/2026
Erin Wright from Morgan Stanley set a target price of $468.0 on 06/30/2026
Kevin Fischbeck from B of A Securities set a target price of $475.0 on 06/24/2026
Whit Mayo from Leerink Partners set a target price of $462.0 on 06/17/2026
Ann Hynes from Mizuho set a target price of $460.0 on 06/08/2026
Lisa Gill from JP Morgan set a target price of $466.0 on 06/08/2026

This article is not financial advice. See Quiver Quantitative's disclaimers for more information. Note that there may be inaccuracies due to mistakes in ticker-mapping, and other anomalies.