Core Viewpoint - UnitedHealth Group reported Q4 results with revenues missing expectations but earnings exceeding them, leading to a decline in stock price due to rising medical costs [1][3]. Financial Performance - Q4 revenue was $100.8 billion, reflecting a 7% year-over-year growth, with UnitedHealth and Optum segments growing 5% and 9% respectively [2]. - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) were $6.81, compared to $6.16 in the prior year quarter [2]. Medical Costs and Ratios - The medical care ratio was reported at 87.6%, up from 85% in the prior-year quarter, exceeding consensus estimates of a 100 basis points increase [2]. - The company anticipates elevated medical costs to persist in 2025, which is factored into the earnings outlook of $29.50 to $30.00 per share [3]. Stock Performance - UNH stock has declined 1% since the beginning of 2024, contrasting with a 25% rise in the S&P 500 index [4]. - Over the last four years, UNH stock performance has been volatile, with returns of 45% in 2021, 7% in 2022, 1% in 2023, and -2% in 2024 [4]. Valuation Perspective - At a current price of $510, UNH trades at 17 times forward expected earnings of $29.75, compared to its average P/E ratio of 21 times over the last three years, indicating potential for growth [6].

Key TakeawaysUnitedHealth shares tumbled Thursday after the health insurer reported fourth-quarter results below Wall Street’s expectations and issued a lackluster outlook amid higher medical costs.The stock ran into selling pressure near the 200-day moving average, with today’s earnings-driven drop following several failed attempts by the bulls to close above the closely watched indicator.Investors should watch key support levels on UnitedHealth's chart around $475 and $436, while also monitoring important ...

Key TakeawaysThe S&P 500 slid 0.2% on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, losing momentum after posting solid gains driven by earnings and inflation optimism in the previous session.UnitedHealth shares dropped as slumping revenue and increasing medical costs weighed on the health insurer's quarterly results.Several research analysts highlighted positive catalysts for Dexcom, and shares of the medical device maker pushed higher. Major U.S. equities indexes ticked lower on Thursday, failing to gain ground a day after so ...

Shares of UnitedHealth Group (UNH -5.14%) were pulling back Thursday after the company delivered underwhelming fourth-quarter results, as sales were weaker than expected and its costs rose. As of 1:15 p.m. ET, the stock was down 5.2%. UnitedHealth misses the markRevenue in the quarter rose by 6.8% to $100.8 billion, which missed the analysts' consensus estimate of $101.7 billion.In its insurance division, UnitedHealthCare, revenue rose 4.7% to $74.1 billion as it added millions of customers during the year, ...

UnitedHealth shares dropped nearly 5% Thursday morning after the firm disclosed worse-than-expected revenue in its first earnings report since the shocking assassination of Brian Thompson, its insurance branch’s chief executive.The insurance provider reported revenue of $100.81 billion in the fourth quarter, below estimates of $101.76 billion as the company was hit by premiums that were lower than expected.UnitedHealth reported $6.81 in adjusted net earnings per share in the same quarter, above expectations ...

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) reported fourth-quarter 2024 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $6.81, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6.71. The bottom line advanced 10.6% year over year.The strong fourth-quarter earnings were aided by domestic commercial membership and Medicare Advantage growth and improving operating efficiency. However, the upside was partly offset by elevated medical costs and a decline in membership across global commercial and Medicaid businesses.Revenues rose ...

Call Start: 08:45 January 1, 0000 9:50 AM ET UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) Q4 2024 Earnings Conference Call January 16, 2025, 08:45 AM ET Company Participants Andrew Witty - Chief Executive Officer John Rex - Chief Financial Officer Amar Desai - Chief Executive Officer, Optum Health Tim Noel - Chief Executive Officer, UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement Bobby Hunter - President, Medicare Sandeep Dadlani - Chief Technology Officer Conference Call Participants A.J. Rice - UBS Josh Raskin - Nep ...

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) is the worst Dow Jones stock Thursday, putting pressure on the price-weighted index, after the health insurance company reported mixed results for its fourth quarter.In the three months ending December 31, UnitedHealth's revenue increased 6.8% year over year to $100.8 billion, thanks in part to a 4.4% rise in premiums to $76.5 billion. Its earnings per share (EPS) were up 10.6% from the year-ago period to $6.81."The people of UnitedHealth Group remain focused on making high-quality, ...

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) reported $100.81 billion in revenue for the quarter ended December 2024, representing a year-over-year increase of 6.8%. EPS of $6.81 for the same period compares to $6.16 a year ago.The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $102.25 billion, representing a surprise of -1.41%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +1.49%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $6.71.While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare wi ...

Government payments to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are set to rise significantly, with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) projecting an average increase of 4.33% in 2026, according to the 2026 Advance Notice. Adjusted for changes in patient risk scores, the effective growth rate will be 2.23%, translating to an additional $21 billion flowing into the Medicare Advantage space by 2026 from the 2025 level.As market leaders, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) , Humana Inc. (HUM) and CVS Hea ...