The Dow Gets Pummeled by UnitedHealth. Why the Rest of the Stock Market Is Fine. - Barron'sSkip to Main ContentThis copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.# The Dow Is Getting Pummeled by UnitedHealth. Why the Rest of the Stock Market Is Fine.By [Paul R. La Monica]Sha ...

ADP reported that US private payrolls rose an average of 7,750 per week in the four weeks ending January 3, the smallest weekly increase in six weeks.The risk of another partial government shutdown is negative for stocks. Senate Democrats threatened to block a government funding deal over Department of Homeland Security/ICE funding after the ICE shooting of an ICU nurse in Minnesota on Saturday. There could be a partial government shutdown when the current stopgap funding measure expires this Friday.Stocks ...

S&P 500 Hits Record. Tech Boosts Nasdaq as Earnings Season Ramps Up.CONCLUDED[Stock Market News From Jan. 27, 2026: S&P 500 Hits Closing High]Last Updated:---Updated 3 hours ago# S&P 500 Hits Record. Tech Boosts Nasdaq as Earnings Season Ramps Up.By[Connor Smith]The S&P 500 closed at a record, as technology stocks led the index to a fifth-straight day of gains ahead of key earnings reports.The S&P 500 was up 0.4%. At nearly 6979, it's the closest the index has finished a day to the 7000 mark. The Nasdaq Com ...

Group 1: Market Performance - US stocks mostly rose, with the S&P 500 hitting a fresh record as optimism around tech offset political concerns [1] - The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite led the gains with nearly a 1% increase, while the S&P 500 rose 0.4% to an all-time high [1] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell approximately 0.8%, primarily due to a significant drop in UnitedHealth shares [1] Group 2: Earnings Reports - The S&P 500's record was supported by positive news from memory chipmakers, boosting optimism for tech ahead of key earnings reports [2] - Major companies such as Meta, Microsoft, and Tesla are set to release their results, with Apple following shortly after [2] Group 3: Company-Specific News - UnitedHealth's shares plummeted around 20% despite reporting a quarterly profit beat, as the proposed Medicare payment rates did not meet expectations [3] - Health insurer stocks declined following the announcement of the Medicare payment proposal [3] Group 4: Economic Indicators - Consumer confidence dropped to its lowest level since 2014, influenced by tariff-related price effects and uncertainty in trade policy [5] - The Federal Reserve began its two-day meeting, with expectations to maintain the benchmark interest rate steady, while markets are looking for future rate cut signals [6]

A $2.5 billion charge tied principally to restructuring and other actions, including contract reassessments, real estate rationalization, and workforce reductions. DeWitt noted about $625 million of this amount was related to a lost contract reserve for third-party contractual relationships within Optum that are “structurally unprofitable” and could not be exited for 2026.A net gain of about $440 million related to portfolio optimization activities for assets the company is exiting or plans to exit.Chairman ...

Core Insights - UnitedHealth Group's stock dropped nearly 20% after disappointing earnings, significantly impacting the Dow Jones Industrial Average [1][1] - The Dow was down nearly 1%, influenced by UnitedHealth's decline, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq saw gains of 0.4% and 0.9%, respectively [1][1] - The price-weighted nature of the Dow means that significant moves in high-priced stocks like UnitedHealth can lead to substantial index fluctuations [1][1] Company Performance - UnitedHealth Group's stock price fell to $351.64, making it the sixth-most expensive stock in the Dow and a major influencer on the index [1][1] - The company faced a "double-whammy" as Medicare administrators announced minimal increases in payments to private Medicare Advantage plans, coupled with a forecast of declining total revenue for the year [1][1] - Other influential Dow components, such as Goldman Sachs, Home Depot, and American Express, also experienced declines, contributing to the overall downturn of the index [1][1] Market Context - The Dow's performance diverged from other major indexes due to the significant impact of UnitedHealth's stock movement, highlighting the unique characteristics of price-weighted indices [1][1] - The decline in UnitedHealth's stock is part of a recurring trend where its financial challenges have previously affected the Dow's performance [1][1]

UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:UNH) stock is eyeing its worst single-day percentage loss since April, last seen down 19.8% to trade at $281.96. The company posted mixed fourth-quarter earnings results, with profits of $2.11 beating estimates by one cent, while revenue of $113.2 billion came in below expectations. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposal to raise Medicare Advantage rates by 0.09% -- far below expectations of a 4-6% increase -- is weighing on the shares, as well as UnitedHealth's s ...

Core Viewpoint - UnitedHealth Group, Inc. experienced a significant stock decline of 20% in one day due to disappointing fourth-quarter earnings and a low 2027 rate proposal from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) [1][2]. CMS Rate Shock - The CMS 2027 Advance Notice proposed a net payment increase of only 0.09%, a stark contrast to analyst expectations of 4% to 6%, effectively acting as a budget cut in the context of medical inflation running between 7% and 10% [3]. - UnitedHealthcare Unit CEO Timothy Noel criticized the CMS notice for failing to reflect the realities of medical utilization and cost trends, emphasizing the need for a more appropriate final growth rate calculation [4]. Financial & Operational Strain - CEO Stephen Hemsley highlighted that the CMS rate proposal would lead to significant benefit reductions across the industry, impacting seniors' choices, access, and affordability [6]. - The stock performance of health insurers was broadly negative, with CVS Health Corp. and Humana, Inc. also experiencing declines of 14% and 19%, respectively [7]. - UnitedHealth's Medical Care Ratio (MCR) approached 90%, indicating that nearly 90 cents of every dollar in premiums is spent on medical claims, driven by high utilization in behavioral health and specialty drugs [7]. - GAAP earnings for the fourth quarter plummeted nearly 100% to just one cent per share, primarily due to restructuring charges and ongoing costs from a cyberattack [7]. - The company anticipates losing up to 1.4 million Medicare Advantage members in 2026 as it shifts focus from growth to profit margins [7].

Core Viewpoint - The current market pullback is attributed to simultaneous macro-regulatory pressures from the government and micro-level factors affecting the technology sector [1] Group 1: Market Dynamics - The market is experiencing a pullback due to two related pressures: macro-regulatory headwinds and micro-level challenges [1] - The technology landscape is being navigated with a focus on risk mitigation, particularly in light of historical events such as the dot-com bubble and the credit default crisis of 2008 [1] Group 2: Investment Focus - The emphasis for investment strategies revolves around momentum, indicating a preference for identifying trends that can drive returns [1]

Core Insights - UnitedHealth Group's stock dropped 20%, reaching a five-month low, following disappointing earnings and unchanged Medicare rates announced by the Trump administration [1] - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) estimated a mere 0.09% increase in payments to private Medicare Advantage plans for the next year, significantly lower than previous years [1] - Other health insurers, including Humana, CVS Health, and Elevance Health, also experienced sharp declines in their stock prices [1] Group 1: Company Performance - UnitedHealth's fourth-quarter revenue was reported at $113.2 billion, falling short of expectations, while adjusted earnings per share met forecasts at $2.11 [1] - The company anticipates total revenue exceeding $439 billion in 2026, reflecting a 2% year-over-year decrease due to planned right-sizing [1] - UnitedHealthcare expects to insure up to 2.8 million fewer people this year, with Medicare Advantage projected to account for nearly half of that reduction [1] Group 2: Market Context - Healthcare stocks have struggled in recent years, impacted by high healthcare costs and political pressures regarding affordability [1] - The healthcare sector had previously shown momentum but is now facing potential headwinds due to political risks and consumer frustrations [1] - Investors are cautious due to the Trump administration's focus on lowering healthcare costs and the criticism from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. [1]