分组1 - UnitedHealth Group's Q4 revenue and full-year revenue outlook fell short of Wall Street forecasts, leading to a nearly 20% drop in its stock price and impacting the broader managed care sector [2][3] - The Trump administration proposed nearly flat reimbursement rates for Medicare Advantage payers in 2027, with an average payment increase of only 0.09%, significantly lower than the expected 4%-6% rise [3] - UnitedHealth reported adjusted EPS of $2.10 for the quarter, meeting consensus, but Q4 revenue of $113.2 billion missed forecasts by approximately $520 million despite a 12% year-over-year growth [4] 分组2 - For 2026, UnitedHealth projects adjusted EPS of over $17.75, aligning closely with analyst expectations, but its revenue forecast of more than $439 billion is below the Street's consensus of $456 billion [4] - Analysts have described the current situation for UnitedHealth as a "somewhat disastrous start" to the year, following a challenging 2025 where shares declined by about 30% [5]

Core Insights - UnitedHealth Group's stock dropped 20%, reaching a five-month low, following disappointing earnings and unchanged Medicare rates announced by the Trump administration [1] - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) estimated a mere 0.09% increase in payments to private Medicare Advantage plans for the next year, significantly lower than previous years [1] - Other health insurers, including Humana, CVS Health, and Elevance Health, also experienced sharp declines in their stock prices [1] Group 1: Company Performance - UnitedHealth's fourth-quarter revenue was reported at $113.2 billion, falling short of expectations, while adjusted earnings per share met forecasts at $2.11 [1] - The company anticipates total revenue exceeding $439 billion in 2026, reflecting a 2% year-over-year decrease due to planned right-sizing [1] - UnitedHealthcare expects to insure up to 2.8 million fewer people this year, with Medicare Advantage projected to account for nearly half of that reduction [1] Group 2: Market Context - Healthcare stocks have struggled in recent years, impacted by high healthcare costs and political pressures regarding affordability [1] - The healthcare sector had previously shown momentum but is now facing potential headwinds due to political risks and consumer frustrations [1] - Investors are cautious due to the Trump administration's focus on lowering healthcare costs and the criticism from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. [1]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the author's personal investment in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) and highlights a positive outlook on the stock, indicating a belief in its potential for growth [1]. Group 1: Company Insights - UnitedHealth Group is a company that has been consistently covered by the author, who has a long position in its shares [2]. - The author emphasizes a commitment to studying business and economics, which informs their analysis of the stock market [1]. Group 2: Investment Perspective - The article is intended for both beginners and advanced readers, aiming to provide a clear and reasoned perspective on investment opportunities [1]. - The author also engages with a broader audience through a YouTube channel called "The Market Monkeys," where they discuss various stocks, including UNH [1].

Core Insights - UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) reported fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.11, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.09, but reflecting a 69% decline year over year [1] - Revenues increased by 12% year over year to $113.2 billion, slightly missing the consensus mark [1] Financial Performance - The quarterly earnings were supported by growth in commercial fee-based membership and strong performance in Optum Rx, although elevated medical costs and a decline in risk-based membership partially offset these positives [2] - For the full year 2025, revenues rose nearly 12% year over year to $447.6 billion, but also marginally missed the consensus estimate [3] - UnitedHealth's fourth-quarter premium reached $88.8 billion, up from $76.5 billion a year ago, but fell short of the consensus estimate of $89 billion [4] Medical Care and Operating Costs - The adjusted medical care ratio (MCR) for the fourth quarter was 91.5%, worsening by 640 basis points from the previous year and below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 92.2% [5] - Total operating costs for the fourth quarter were $112.8 billion, a 21.3% increase year over year, exceeding the model estimate of $109.4 billion [6] Business Segments - Revenues from UnitedHealthcare, the health benefits segment, grew 17.5% year over year to $87.1 billion, but missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $87.3 billion [7] - Optum's revenues were $70.3 billion, up from $65.1 billion a year ago, surpassing the consensus mark of $67.6 billion [9] Financial Position - As of December 31, 2025, UnitedHealth had cash and short-term investments of $28.1 billion, down from $29.1 billion at the end of 2024 [12] - Total equity increased to $100.1 billion from $98.3 billion at the end of 2024 [13] 2026 Outlook - Management projects revenues for 2026 to exceed $439 billion, which is below the 2025 level, with adjusted EPS expected to be at least $17.75, indicating improving margins [14] - The company anticipates MCR to be around 88.8% in 2026, down from 89.1% in 2025, and expects operating cash flows to be $18 billion, a decrease from 2025 [15]

Market Overview - Wall Street is experiencing volatility with mixed profit reports from major companies, leading to a slight rise in the S&P 500 by 0.5% while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 288 points or 0.6% [1] - The Nasdaq composite increased by 1% [1] Company Performance - UnitedHealth Group's stock dropped by 19.1% despite reporting a profit that exceeded analysts' expectations, primarily due to a disappointing revenue forecast for the upcoming year [2] - Other healthcare companies, including Humana, Elevance Health, and CVS Health, also faced significant declines of 20.2%, 13%, and 12.9% respectively, influenced by a projected rate increase for Medicare Advantage that did not meet investor expectations [3] - Corning's stock rose by 15.5% after announcing a $6 billion deal with Meta Platforms to supply optical fiber and cable for data centers [4] - General Motors and HCA Healthcare saw stock increases of 9% and 11.1% respectively, both reporting profits that surpassed Wall Street's expectations and initiating stock buyback programs [5] - UPS's stock rose by 4.4% following a stronger profit report and a positive revenue forecast for 2026, while American Airlines' stock fell by 4.2% due to a profit that fell short of expectations [6] Market Sentiment and Economic Indicators - There is increasing pressure on companies to deliver strong profit growth following record stock price increases, as stock prices typically align with corporate profits over the long term [7] - Anticipation surrounds upcoming earnings reports from major tech companies, including Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Tesla, and Apple [7] - Big Tech stocks contributed positively to the S&P 500, with Apple and Microsoft gaining 2.2% and 2% respectively [8] - The Federal Reserve is expected to maintain its main interest rate steady, with inflation remaining above the 2% target [9] - Consumer confidence in the U.S. has weakened, dropping to its lowest level since 2014, which could impact market sentiment [10]

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK)(NYSE:BRK) disclosed a new stake in UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) in August, but after an initial rally, the stock has since fallen, putting the position underwater.Buffett's Berkshire Bets on UNH StockA 13F filing from Berkshire Hathaway unveiled the purchase of 5,039,564 UNH shares by the conglomerate in the second quarter, a position that represented one of the largest new buys from the company, then led by Buffett.The purchase of UnitedHealth shares in the s ...

UnitedHealth Is Pummeling the Dow. The Rest of the Market Is Fine. - Barron'sSkip to Main ContentThis copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.# UnitedHealth Is Pummeling the Dow. The Rest of the Market Is Fine.By [Paul R. La Monica]ShareResize---ReprintsIn this article ...

Key Points Health insurance company UnitedHealth Group missed on sales but met expectations for adjusted earnings this morning. GAAP earnings fell nearly 100% however, sparking a sell-off. 10 stocks we like better than UnitedHealth Group › Shares of health insurance giant UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) stock imploded this morning, falling 19% through 11 a.m. ET after reporting Q4 earnings. The weird thing is... UnitedHealth didn't miss earnings, or at least not at first glance. Analysts forecast U ...

We're back on Morning Trade Live. Let's focus on health insurers. United Health, Humanana, CVS, and Elevance are all moving lower this morning after the Trump administration proposed keeping Medicare Advantage rates relatively flat in 2027.You can see how much that is impacting these stocks right now down in double digits. We are seeing some heavy heavy selling pressure this morning despite the fact that actually we heard from United Health with respect to their earnings. But this story is not helping.So th ...

Core Viewpoint - The health insurance sector experienced a significant sell-off due to the Trump administration's proposal for a lower-than-expected increase in Medicare Advantage payment rates for 2027, leading to a sharp decline in shares of major insurers like UnitedHealth Group. Group 1: Market Reaction - UnitedHealth Group (UNH) shares fell by more than 19%, while Elevance Health (ELV) and CVS (CVS) each dropped over 12% following the announcement [2] - The proposed payment rate increase for Medicare Advantage plans is only 0.09% for 2027, significantly lower than the anticipated increase of up to 6% [1][4] Group 2: Financial Metrics - UnitedHealth's Medical Care Ratio (MCR) is reported at 89.1%, indicating that the company spends 89 cents of every premium dollar on medical care [2][3] - The MCR is a critical metric for insurers, reflecting the percentage of premium revenue allocated to medical claims and healthcare services [3] Group 3: Industry Impact - UnitedHealth has the largest exposure to Medicare Advantage changes, accounting for approximately 30% of national enrollment, while Humana (HUM) follows with about 17% [3] - The proposed payment changes could lead to benefit cuts and increased costs for 35 million seniors and individuals with disabilities, further straining the Medicare Advantage sector [5] Group 4: Company Performance - UnitedHealth reported fourth quarter revenues of $113.2 million and full-year revenues of $447.6 million, both of which were below market expectations [6] - Despite the revenue shortfall, both fourth quarter and full-year revenues showed a 12% increase compared to the previous year [7]