UnitedHealth (UNH) Secures Analyst Confidence with Strong Medicare Outlook and Earnings Guidance

Group 1 - UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) is considered one of the best defensive stocks to buy, with an Outperform rating and a price target of $379 from Bernstein SocGen Group [1][2] - The company has shown stability in its medical benefits business, with approximately 78% of Medicare Advantage members expected to be in 4-star or higher plans for 2026 [2][3] - UnitedHealth has reaffirmed its 2025 adjusted earnings per share guidance despite facing significant headwinds this year, alleviating initial concerns about potential guidance cuts under the new CEO [3]