What Wall Street Analysts Think of UnitedHealth's Stock Ahead of Earnings

Earnings and Analyst Sentiment - UnitedHealth Group is set to report fourth-quarter earnings before the market opens Thursday [1][3] - All 17 analysts tracked by Visible Alpha have a "buy" or equivalent rating on the company [1][3] - The consensus price target is nearly $642, representing an 18% premium to UnitedHealth's Monday close around $541 [1] - The consensus price target suggests a close to 10% rise in the shares is expected [3] Financial Performance and Outlook - Wall Street expects the company to report fourth-quarter revenue of $101.68 billion, up 8% year-over-year [2] - Fourth-quarter earnings are expected to be $5.84 billion, or $6.30 per share, compared to $5.46 billion, or $5.83 per share, a year earlier [2] - The company shared its financial outlook for 2025, forecasting revenue of $450 billion to $455 billion and adjusted net income of $29.50 per share to $30 per share [2] Recent Events and Market Reaction - The results will be the company's first quarterly report since the CEO of its UnitedHealthcare unit, Brian Thompson, was fatally shot on Dec. 4 [3] - The company's shares have fallen more than 10% in the weeks since the incident [3] - UnitedHealth shares rose nearly 4% on Monday as broader markets finished mixed [3]