Core Insights - UnitedHealth's shares experienced a historic decline, dropping 20% in morning trading, which resulted in a loss of over $100 billion in market value [1][6] - The company's quarterly earnings report fell significantly short of Wall Street's expectations across revenue, earnings per share, and future earnings outlook [2][3] Financial Performance - UnitedHealth reported $109.6 billion in revenue and $7.20 adjusted earnings per share, both more than 1% below consensus analyst estimates [3] - The company's guidance for adjusted EPS this year is projected between $26 to $26.50, which is over 10% lower than the prior forecast of $29.72 [3] Market Impact - The decline in UnitedHealth's stock heavily impacted the Dow Jones Industrial Average, contributing to a 500-point drop, or 1.3% decrease [4] - UnitedHealth's market capitalization loss is expected to drop it from the 14th to the 18th most valuable company in the U.S. [6] Industry Context - UnitedHealth is the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, which holds a 14% market share in commercial health insurance and a 28% share in Medicare Advantage, both the largest in the industry [8] - The company is currently under a civil fraud investigation by the Department of Justice regarding its Medicare billing practices [9]