UnitedHealth to pay dividends on December 16; Here's how much 100 UNH shares will earn

Core Viewpoint - UnitedHealth Group has announced its next quarterly dividend of $2.21 per share, unchanged from the previous dividend, amidst a challenging year marked by a significant stock decline and ongoing investigations [1][2][4]. Dividend Information - The next dividend payment will be made on December 18, 2025, to shareholders of record as of December 8, 2025 [1]. - The current annual dividend yield is 2.7%, with a payout ratio of 49.99%, based on a share price of $327.45, which is higher than the sector average yield of 1.58% [2]. Shareholder Impact - For investors holding 100 shares, the upcoming payout will amount to $221 in December, translating to an annual total of $884 [3]. Stock Performance and Outlook - UnitedHealth's stock has experienced a 35% decline since January, primarily due to leadership changes and investigations by the Department of Justice [4]. - Despite the decline, the company reported stronger-than-expected earnings, with $113.2 billion in revenue, a 12% year-over-year increase, and adjusted EPS of $2.92, exceeding Wall Street estimates by $0.13 [6]. - The medical care ratio was reported at 89.9%, which is above the industry norm of around 80%, leading management to raise the full-year EPS forecast to at least $16.25 [7]. - The stock remains approximately 50% below its 52-week high of $630 and trades at a forward P/E ratio of about 20, slightly below the S&P 500 average of 22, which may limit near-term upside [7]. Long-term Prospects - Although UnitedHealth has not fully recovered from the year's downturn, its long-term outlook appears strong due to solid revenue growth, with management indicating that new initiatives may yield significant benefits by 2027 [8].