UnitedHealth stock rises as upbeat Q1 results and fresh price-target increases keep momentum going

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) is up 3.9% today. Here is some analysis on what might have caused this price movement.

Analysis: The move appears tied to continued follow-through from UnitedHealth’s strong first-quarter results and higher full-year earnings outlook, which helped reset investor expectations around medical-cost trends. Additional support likely came from post-earnings analyst revisions (including higher price targets) that reinforced the idea that profitability is stabilizing.

Details:

UnitedHealth reported first-quarter 2026 revenue of $111.7 billion and adjusted EPS of $7.23, alongside a raised full-year 2026 adjusted EPS outlook of greater than $18.25.

Medical cost ratio improved to 83.9% in the quarter (down 90 basis points year over year), a key metric investors often watch for managed-care margin pressure.

The company outlined plans to repurchase at least $2.0 billion of common stock by the end of the second quarter of 2026, which can add support to shares after results.

After the earnings release, Morgan Stanley raised its price target to $395 and reiterated an Overweight/Top Pick stance, helping extend the post-reporting rebound.

Sources:

UnitedHealth Group (Investor Release), TheStreet, Kiplinger

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

$UNH Hedge Fund Activity

We have seen 1,259 institutional investors add shares of $UNH stock to their portfolio, and 1,821 decrease their positions in their most recent quarter.

Here are some of the largest recent moves:

UBS AM, A DISTINCT BUSINESS UNIT OF UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC removed 20,260,160 shares (-73.6%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $6,688,081,417
CAPITAL RESEARCH GLOBAL INVESTORS removed 6,780,251 shares (-52.0%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $2,238,228,657
CARDANO RISK MANAGEMENT B.V. removed 2,264,606 shares (-89.7%) from their portfolio in Q1 2026, for an estimated $608,839,323
CITADEL ADVISORS LLC added 2,079,416 shares (+244.9%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $686,436,015
UBS GROUP AG removed 1,839,868 shares (-40.3%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $607,358,825
ROCKEFELLER CAPITAL MANAGEMENT L.P. added 1,568,099 shares (+532.9%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $517,645,160
AMUNDI added 1,544,066 shares (+26.6%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $509,711,627

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.

$UNH Government Contracts

We have seen $16,795,392,718 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
EXPRESS REPORT: R3 FY25 2ND QTR FEBRUARY: $730,504,137

To track government contracts to publicy traded companies, check out Quiver Quantitative's government contracts dashboard.

$UNH Congressional Stock Trading

Members of Congress have traded $UNH stock 14 times in the past 6 months. Of those trades, 7 have been purchases and 7 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 2 times. They made 2 purchases worth up to $30,000 on 03/19, 11/05 and 0 sales.
REPRESENTATIVE GILBERT RAY CISNEROS, JR. has traded it 4 times. They made 2 purchases worth up to $65,000 on 03/13, 12/19 and 2 sales worth up to $65,000 on 02/10, 11/12.
SENATOR MARKWAYNE MULLIN purchased up to $100,000 on 02/25.
REPRESENTATIVE JOSH GOTTHEIMER purchased up to $15,000 on 02/05.
REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN HERN sold up to $500,000 on 12/23.
REPRESENTATIVE JULIE JOHNSON has traded it 2 times. They made 0 purchases and 2 sales worth up to $30,000 on 12/18, 11/13.
REPRESENTATIVE LISA C. MCCLAIN has traded it 3 times. They made 1 purchase worth up to $15,000 on 10/30 and 2 sales worth up to $30,000 on 10/31, 10/30.

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.

$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 18 analysts offer price targets for $UNH in the last 6 months, with a median target of $395.0.

Here are some recent targets:

Ryan Langston from TD Cowen set a target price of $337.0 on 04/23/2026
Michael Wiederhorn from Oppenheimer set a target price of $405.0 on 04/22/2026
Whit Mayo from Leerink Partners set a target price of $400.0 on 04/22/2026
Ben Hendrix from RBC Capital set a target price of $400.0 on 04/22/2026
Stephen Baxter from Wells Fargo set a target price of $397.0 on 04/22/2026
David Toung from Argus Research set a target price of $400.0 on 04/22/2026
Erin Wright from Morgan Stanley set a target price of $395.0 on 04/22/2026

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.