Wall Street sets UnitedHealth stock price ahead of Q2 earnings report

Core Insights - UnitedHealth is under scrutiny due to legal and regulatory investigations, leading to a suspension of financial guidance and a significant drop in stock value [1][2] - The company missed earnings estimates in the last quarter and lowered its profit outlook, primarily due to higher-than-expected Medicare Advantage claims [2] - Analysts expect UnitedHealth to report $111.88 billion in revenue for Q2, a 13% year-over-year increase, but adjusted earnings per share are projected to decline from $6.80 to $4.70 [2] Financial Performance - UnitedHealth's stock experienced a severe decline, with a 44% year-to-date drop, closing at $281.06, below the key $300 resistance level [3] - The stock recorded its worst drop in decades in April, exacerbated by the resignation of CEO Andrew Witty [2][3] Analyst Sentiment - Despite recent challenges, Wall Street maintains a broadly positive outlook on UnitedHealth, with a 'Moderate Buy' consensus from 24 analysts [5] - The average 12-month price target for the stock is $348.12, indicating a potential upside of 24.96% from current levels [5] - Recent analyst actions include Wells Fargo lowering its price target from $351 to $306 while maintaining a 'Buy' rating, and Deutsche Bank reducing its target from $362 to $328 due to negative developments [7][8]