Is This Defensive Giant a Good Stock to Buy in a Volatile Market?

Core Insights - UnitedHealth Group is navigating a challenging market environment, focusing on stability and addressing underperformance issues to position for renewed growth [1][2][3] Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, UnitedHealth reported a revenue increase of 12% year-over-year, exceeding $113 billion, driven by strong membership growth and effective execution across core businesses [4] - Adjusted earnings per share fell to $2.92 from $7.15 in the same quarter last year, indicating significant margin pressure [4] Business Segments - The growth engine, Optum, is evolving with three divisions: Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx, with expectations for steady improvement and a long-term margin target of 6%-8% by 2027 [5] - Optum Rx is performing well, showing double-digit revenue growth and high customer retention [5] Strategic Focus - The company is balancing near-term financial discipline with strategic investments to ensure long-term growth, with a medical care ratio of 89.9%, up from 85.2% last year, reflecting higher care usage [6]