UnitedHealth Stock Rallying Ahead of Earnings

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]