UnitedHealth Stock Lifts Sector After Earnings

Core Insights - UnitedHealth Group Inc's shares are experiencing a significant increase following the release of first-quarter results that exceeded expectations, despite a cyberattack anticipated to cost the company up to $1.6 billion this year [1] - The stock is currently up 6.3% at $473.75, having reached a high of $479.95 earlier in the day, which has positively influenced sector peers [1] - Year-to-date, the stock has declined approximately 10%, and it has not yet fully recovered from the bear gap that occurred in early April due to the cyber event [1] Options Activity - There has been notable activity in the options market for UnitedHealth, with 22,000 calls and 16,000 puts exchanged, which is seven times the typical volume for this period [1] - The most popular options are the April 480 call and the April 485 call, with new positions being opened at the latter [1] Analyst Ratings - Analysts have not yet provided feedback following the positive earnings report, but it is noteworthy that 20 out of 21 analysts covering the stock already have a "buy" or better rating, with only one analyst rating it as a "hold" [2] - The consensus 12-month price target for UnitedHealth is $574.52, indicating a 20% premium over current stock levels [2]