UnitedHealth Group (UNH) came out with quarterly earnings of $7.20 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.27 per share. This compares to earnings of $6.91 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -0.96%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this largest U.S. health insurer would post earnings of $6.71 per share when it actually produced earnings of $6.81, delivering a surprise of 1.49%.Over the last four q ...

UnitedHealth Group UNH on Thursday reported first-quarter 2025 earnings and revised 2025 guidance.The insurance giant reported adjusted EPS of $7.20, up from $6.91 a year ago, missing the consensus of $7.29. Revenues increased 6.8% year over year to $109.6 billion, missing the consensus of $111.60 billion.“UnitedHealth Group…did not perform up to our expectations, and we are aggressively addressing those challenges to position us well for the years ahead and return to our long-term earnings growth rate targ ...

UnitedHealth Group Reports First Quarter 2025 Results and Revises Full Year Guidance (April 17, 2025) UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) reported first quarter 2025 results and revised its outlook for the year. "UnitedHealth Group grew to serve more people more comprehensively but did not perform up to our expectations, and we are aggressively addressing those challenges to position us well for the years ahead, and return to our long-term earnings growth rate target of 13 to 16%," said Andrew Witty, chief execu ...

Core Viewpoint - UnitedHealth Group Inc is set to announce its first-quarter earnings report, with Wall Street expecting a 5.2% increase in earnings per share compared to the same quarter last year, alongside significant revenue projections [1] Group 1: Earnings Expectations - Anticipated earnings per share for the first quarter are $7.27, reflecting a 5.2% increase year-over-year [1] - Projected revenue for the quarter is $111.01 billion [1] Group 2: Stock Performance - UnitedHealth stock has experienced a rally since late February, reaching a nearly four-month high of $606.36 [2] - Year-to-date, the stock has increased by 16.8%, outperforming broader market trends [2] - The stock is currently above all moving averages from the 20-day to the 320-day trendlines, indicating strong momentum [2] Group 3: Earnings History and Analyst Ratings - Historically, UnitedHealth has shown a mixed pattern in earnings moves, closing higher after four of the last eight quarters [4] - The average next-day swing in stock price following earnings announcements over the past two years has been 5.6%, slightly above the 5% move currently priced in by options [4] - All 22 analysts covering UnitedHealth have a "buy" or better rating, suggesting limited potential for upgrades following a positive earnings report [4]

Group 1: Market Overview - The market has experienced sharp volatility recently, but not all stocks have been negatively impacted, with UnitedHealth (UNH), Newmont (NEM), and Sprouts Farmers Market (SFM) showing positive gains [1][8]. Group 2: Newmont (NEM) - Newmont is one of the largest gold producers globally, with active mines in Nevada, Peru, Australia, and Ghana, benefiting from a surge in gold prices, resulting in a nearly 50% year-to-date performance increase [4]. - The average gold price per ounce reached $2,643, up from $2,004 in the same period last year, contributing to a record free cash flow of $1.6 billion [5]. - Analysts have raised their EPS expectations for Newmont, reflecting a bullish near-term outlook [7]. Group 3: UnitedHealth (UNH) - UnitedHealth provides a comprehensive range of health benefits, with its Optum segment leveraging data and technology to enhance care delivery and health outcomes [9]. - The company is expected to report a 5% year-over-year EPS growth on 11% higher sales, having exceeded EPS estimates in the last 20 quarterly releases [10][11]. - UnitedHealth's domestic operations provide a buffer against tariff concerns [11]. Group 4: Sprouts Farmers Market (SFM) - SFM has shown strong performance, exceeding consensus EPS and sales expectations for the last ten quarters, with a stock increase of nearly 160% over the past year [12]. - The company reported $2.0 billion in sales, reflecting a 17% year-over-year growth, indicating strong demand [14]. - SFM holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), with a notably bullish EPS outlook [15]. Group 5: Conclusion - Despite ongoing market volatility and tariff headlines, UnitedHealth, Newmont, and Sprouts Farmers Market have all demonstrated upward momentum and possess bullish near-term EPS outlooks [16].

Core Viewpoint - CVS Health and UnitedHealth Group are two major players in the U.S. healthcare market, both having transformed their business models significantly to offer comprehensive healthcare solutions [1][2]. Performance Comparison - CVS Health has shown a remarkable recovery in 2025, becoming the top performer in the S&P 500 with a year-to-date return of 56%, while UnitedHealth ranks 16th with a 16.5% gain [3]. CVS Health Insights - CVS Health is focusing on margin recovery in its Aetna business, which saw a 23% year-over-year revenue growth in Q4 despite an adjusted operating loss. The company projects $132 billion in healthcare benefits revenues for 2025 and aims for at least $1.5 billion in adjusted operating income [6][7]. - The company is executing a $2 billion multi-year cost efficiency initiative, expecting savings in 2025 to offset rising variable expenses [7]. - CVS Health generated $9.1 billion in operating cash flow in 2024, exceeding expectations, and projects $6.5 billion in cash flow for 2025, indicating strong financial stability [8]. UnitedHealth Group Insights - UnitedHealth faced challenges in 2024, including CMS Medicare rate cuts and a cyberattack, yet it deployed nearly $17 billion in growth capital and returned over $16 billion to shareholders [9]. - For 2025, UnitedHealth expects cash flow from operations to approach $33 billion, indicating robust profitability [10]. - Optum Health's revenues are projected to grow from $105 billion in 2024 to $117 billion in 2025, with a significant increase in patients receiving value-based care [11]. Earnings Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CVS Health's 2025 earnings per share suggests an 8.7% improvement from 2024 [13]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for UnitedHealth's 2025 EPS implies a 7.5% improvement over the previous fiscal year [15]. Valuation Comparison - CVS is trading at a forward P/E of 11.25X, above its 5-year median of 9.25X, while UnitedHealth is at 19.06X, below its 5-year median and high [18][19]. Conclusion - UnitedHealth is currently viewed as a stronger buy due to better margins, cash flow, and a more attractive valuation compared to CVS Health, which is facing challenges with elevated medical costs [21].

Core Insights - Earnings season is crucial for investors, with a focus on guidance due to recent tariff-induced uncertainties [1] - Notable large-cap stocks reporting this week include Progressive (PGR) and UnitedHealth (UNH), both showing strong relative performance in 2025 [1][7] UnitedHealth (UNH) Summary - UnitedHealth Group provides a comprehensive range of health benefits, leveraging data and technology through its Optum segment to enhance care delivery and health outcomes [4] - The company holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), with stable earnings estimate revisions and expected 5% EPS growth on 11% higher sales [4] - Current trading at a 19.5X forward 12-month earnings multiple, aligning with the five-year median and below the five-year high of 26.6X; PEG ratio stands at 1.6X, slightly above the five-year median of 1.4X [6] Progressive (PGR) Summary - Progressive is a leading auto and property insurer in the U.S., recognized for its direct-to-consumer model and strong underwriting performance [9] - The stock also holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), with earnings expectations rising significantly, up 27% over the last 60 days [9] - Projected to see a 27% year-over-year increase in EPS on nearly 20% higher sales, with a history of exceeding Zacks Consensus EPS estimates by an average of 18% in the last four releases [10] - Currently trading at a 17.6X forward 12-month earnings multiple, compared to a five-year median of 19.3X and a five-year high of 31.9X [10] Overall Market Context - The Q1 earnings season for 2025 is gaining momentum, with Progressive and UnitedHealth as key players [13] - Both companies are relatively insulated from tariff concerns due to their domestic operations, which is a significant advantage in the current political climate [13]

Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the 'long' context, investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.Even ...

Analysts on Wall Street project that UnitedHealth Group (UNH) will announce quarterly earnings of $7.27 per share in its forthcoming report, representing an increase of 5.2% year over year. Revenues are projected to reach $111.01 billion, increasing 11.2% from the same quarter last year.The current level reflects an upward revision of 0.1% in the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter over the past 30 days. This demonstrates how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reappraised their initial pro ...

March 2025 might seem like ages ago in market years, as the Trump tariffs have rocked the market like few things before it. However, the trends in March are not so different from what's happening now, as consumer sentiment was rapidly weakening and fears of a recession were mounting before the tariff announcement.Let's take a look at the two best-performing Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI 1.26%) companies to see if they're worth buying today. 1. UnitedHealth Group (up 10.3% in March)UnitedHealth Group (U ...