Why UnitedHealth Group (UNH) is a Top Stock for the Long-Term

Core Insights - The Zacks Focus List is a curated portfolio of 50 stocks aimed at long-term investors, expected to outperform the market over the next 12 months [2] - The Focus List has demonstrated strong past performance, with a cumulative return of 2,519.23% from February 1, 1996, to March 31, 2021, compared to the S&P 500's return of 854.95% [3] Focus List Methodology - Stocks are selected for the Focus List based on earnings estimate revisions, which are critical for predicting future growth and profitability [4] - The Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock-rating model, utilizes changes in quarterly earnings expectations to help investors build a successful portfolio [5] - The Focus List primarily includes stocks rated as 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), indicating a positive earnings consensus among analysts [5] Spotlight on UnitedHealth Group - UnitedHealth Group, added to the Focus List on June 22, 2015, has seen its share price increase by 381.68% from $120.33 to$579.61 [6] - Recent upward revisions in earnings estimates for UnitedHealth Group indicate a consensus estimate increase of $0.12 to$27.69 for fiscal 2024, with a forecasted earnings growth of 10.2% for the current fiscal year [6]