UnitedHealth Stock Climbs 7.3% as Reddit Rage Fades to Neutral

Core Insights - UnitedHealth Group (UNH) shares increased by 7.3% over the past week as retail investor sentiment shifted from deeply bearish to neutral, currently trading around $355 after a significant decline from its 52-week high following the CEO's shooting incident [1][5] - The social sentiment score for UnitedHealth Group is now at 42, classified as 'Neutral (Bearish-Leaning),' indicating a recovery from previous extremes of negativity [2][5] Sentiment Analysis - Sentiment on Reddit for UNH showed volatility, with scores dropping to 18 in November and peaking at 82 in late December, reflecting mixed engagement across different communities [3] - The WallStreetBets subreddit remained bearish during high-activity periods, while r/options maintained a bullish sentiment, indicating divergent views among retail investors [4] Peer Comparison - Cigna reported Q3 revenue of $69.7 billion, a 10% year-over-year increase, demonstrating that managed healthcare companies can still achieve growth despite sector challenges [4] - Cigna's P/E ratio is 12 compared to UNH's 18, with both companies facing similar margin pressures and regulatory scrutiny [4] Recovery and Future Outlook - UnitedHealth's sentiment recovery from 30 in late September to 42 today represents a 40% improvement, although it remains below the bullish peak of 82 in December [5] - Analyst price targets for UNH are set at $394, indicating an 11% upside potential, as the stock shows recent gains after a substantial decline over the past year [5]