Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) operates as a health care company in the United States and internationally. The company is valued at $361 billion and operates through four segments: Optum Health, Optum Insight, Optum Rx, and UnitedHealthcare.
Shares of UnitedHealth have outpaced the broader market over the past year, surging 23.1% compared to the S&P 500 Index’s ($SPX) 11.3% surge. Moreover, in 2026, the stock has risen by nearly 22.1%, also rallying above SPX’s 11.3% gain.
Zooming in further, the State Street Healthcare Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) has risen 25.4% over the past year, outperforming the stock. In 2026, XLV has surged 22.1%, matching the stock’s performance.
On Oct. 14, UNH stock rose 4.7% following the release of its better-than-expected Q3 2026 earnings. The company’s revenue for the quarter totaled $112.7 billion and beat Street estimates, while its operating margin also grew. UNH’s adjusted EPS came in at $4.67, also topping the consensus estimates. The company upgraded its full-year 2026 adjusted earnings outlook to at least $20.50 per share.
For the current year, which ends in December, analysts expect UNH’s EPS to rise 26.1% to $20.61 on a diluted basis. The company surpassed the consensus estimate in each of the last four quarters, which is impressive.
Among the 26 analysts covering UNH stock, the consensus is a “Strong Buy.” That’s based on 18 “Strong Buy” ratings, three “Moderate Buys,” and five “Holds.”
The configuration has grown more bearish over the past months, with the stock now having 18 “Strong Buy” ratings, down from 20 three months prior.
On Oct. 27, Morgan Stanley analyst Erin Wright maintained a “Buy” rating for UNH stock and raised its target price from $529 to $531.
UNH’s mean price target of $474.08 offers 17.7% upside from the current market price. Its Street-high target of $531 implies a robust 31.8% upside from current levels.
On the date of publication, Aritra Gangopadhyay did not directly have a position in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.