Dernières nouvelles pour UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Stock

UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INC

UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group is one of the largest private health insurers and provides medical benefits to about 51 million members globally, including 1 million outside the US as of December 2024. As a leader in employer-sponsored, self-directed, and government-backed insurance plans, UnitedHealth has obtained massive scale in medical insurance. Along with its insurance assets, UnitedHealth's Optum franchises help create a healthcare services colossus that spans everything from pharmaceutical benefits to providing outpatient care and analytics to both affiliated and third-party customers.

The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/dow-jones-industrial-average">Dow Jones Industrial Average</a> was up around 4% in the first half of 2025, with 21 of the 30 components positive year-to-date through the first six months.
The index, which contains a diverse basket of stocks across sectors, offers many dividend stocks, with some having high yields for investors.
What Happened: When looking <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/dividends">for dividend stocks</a>, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is one place with the index having a basket of what are considered blue-chip American companies.
The 30 index components have strong track records of revenue and earnings growth, and in many cases, a long history of paying dividends and raising the dividend amounts.
While investors can buy an ETF like the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>), which tracks the entire index, another option is to buy the &#8220;Dogs of the Dow.&#8221;
The "Dogs of the Dow" is a popular strategy that often coincides with the beaten-down stocks of the index which also offer high dividend payouts.
Here are the current top-yielding dividend stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average after the first six months of 2025.
<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>): 6.3%</li>
<li>Chevron Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>): 4.8%</li>
<li>Merck &amp; Co Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>): 4.1%</li>
<li>Amgen Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMGN#NASDAQ">AMGN</a>): 3.4%</li>
<li>Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>): 3.4%</li>
<li>Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>): 2.9%</li>
<li>UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>): 2.8%</li>
<li>Procter &amp; Gamble (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PG#NYSE">PG</a>): 2.7%</li>
<li>Home Depot Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HD#NYSE">HD</a>): 2.5%</li>
<li>McDonald's Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>): 2.4%</li>
</ol>
In the Dow Jones Industrial Average, 28 of the 30 stocks pay out dividends. The average dividend yield of the 30 companies is 2% with the 10 highest averaging a yield of 3.5%.
Twenty of the 30 stocks in the index pay out at least a 1% dividend yield based on current stock prices.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/07/46200141/dow-jones-2025-first-half-scoreboard-top-10-winners-losers-where-do-nvidia-apple-stock-rank">Dow Jones 2025 First Half Scoreboard: Top 10 Winners, Losers — Where Do Nvidia, Apple Stock Rank?</a>
Why It's Important: Along with stock price gains, dividends can be a nice form of consistent growth for companies and investors.
Investors can choose to collect dividend yield and put the capital to work in other stocks, or use it as income for other investments or spending. Investors can also reinvest the dividends back into the companies from which they got dividends.
Over a long period of time, dividend stocks can offer strong returns for investors with yields sometimes outpacing the returns of the overall stock market or other asset classes such as bonds and treasuries.
Read Next: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-monthly-dividend-stocks">Best Monthly Dividend Stocks</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

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SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

Dogs Of The Dow: How You Can Get Dividend Stocks With Yields Up To 6.3%

The first half of 2025 has come to a close and 21 of the 30 stocks that make up the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/dow-jones-industrial-average">Dow Jones Industrial Average Index</a> are positive year-to-date.
Despite the impressive number of stocks with a positive performance in the first six months, the index was up around 4% with several of the components posting large declines.
2025 Performance: Through the first six months of the year, two <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/magnificent-seven">Magnificent Seven stocks </a>are among the 10 best in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and two are among the 10 worst in the index based on performance.
Here's a look at the 10 best Dow Jones Industrial Average stocks in the first half:
<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>International Business Machines (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBM#NYSE">IBM</a>): +34.1%</li>
<li>Goldman Sachs (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>): +23.6%</li>
<li>JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>): +20.9%</li>
<li>Boeing Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>): +18.4%</li>
<li>Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>): +18.0%</li>
<li>3M Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMM#NYSE">MMM</a>): +17.9%</li>
<li>NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>): +17.6%</li>
<li>Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>): +17.2%</li>
<li>Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>): +13.6%</li>
<li>Visa Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>): +12.3%</li>
</ol>
Here are the 10 worst performing Dow Jones Industrial Average stocks in the first half:
<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>): -38.3%</li>
<li>Merck &amp; Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>): -20.4%</li>
<li>Salesforce.com Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>): -18.4</li>
<li>Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>): -18.1%</li>
<li>Nike Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>): -6.1%</li>
<li>Home Depot Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HD#NYSE">HD</a>): -5.7%</li>
<li>Procter &amp; Gamble Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PG#NYSE">PG</a>): -5.0%</li>
<li>Chevron Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>): -1.1%</li>
<li>Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>): Flat</li>
<li>McDonald's Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NASDAQ">MCD</a>): +0.8%</li>
</ol>
Overall the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>), which tracks the index, was up around 4% in the first half of 2025. This was a lower gain than the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), which tracks the S&amp;P 500, which had a 5.7% gain in the first half.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/06/45932660/exclusive-sp-500-new-all-time-highs-again-2025">EXCLUSIVE: S&amp;P 500 To Hit New All-Time Highs Again In 2025? Majority Say Yes, 27% Predict This Range</a>
Why It's Important: Nvidia was one of the new Dow Jones components <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/24/12/42726598/dow-jones-2024-scoreboard-top-5-winners-losers-and-how-amazon-nvidia-could-reshape-2025">added in 2024</a> and the stock is one of the top performers in the first half of 2025. The stock replaced Intel, which was a top decliner in recent years.
The index also got rid of Walgreens, which was another poor performer in recent years. Its replacement Amazon was flat for the first half of 2025.
The new index makeup is showing strong signs of positive returns.
With 21 of the components positive year-to-date and one flat, this could mark one of the best years by the number of gainers in recent history.
In 2024, 18 of the 30 stocks were up for the full year. In 2023, 19 of the stocks in the index were up.
Perhaps most surprising is that two of the Magnificent Seven stocks rank among the worst performers in the first half of 2025, despite being part of the four Mag 7 members included in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Apple was the fourth-worst performer in the index for the first half, falling 18.1%. That marks a sharp reversal from its standout status as the only Dow Jones stock to rank among the top gainers in both 2023 and 2024.
Amazon ranked ninth with a flat return, as only eight of the components were down. 
The Dow Jones Industrial Average remains one of the most closely watched stock market indexes, serving as a gauge of overall market health. With only 30 stocks and a weighting based on stock price, rather than market capitalization, the index is less frequently used by some analysts and market experts than the broader S&amp;P 500 Index.
Read Next: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/07/46198021/nvidia-vs-microsoft-vs-apple-which-stock-reaches-4-trillion-first">Nvidia Vs. Microsoft Vs. Apple: Which Stock Reaches $4 Trillion First?</a></li>
</ul>
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

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MSFT

NVDA

Dow Jones 2025 First Half Scoreboard: Top 10 Winners, Losers — Where Do Nvidia, Apple Stock Rank?

The Department of Justice, more than 320 individuals have been charged, uncovering nearly $15 billion in fraudulent claims, marking a significant milestone in the fight against healthcare fraud.
What Happened: The Justice Department announced the charges on Monday, revealing a staggering&nbsp;$14.6 billion in fraudulent claims. The operation, named &#8220;Operation Gold Rush,&#8221; also resulted in the seizure of assets worth over $245 million, including cash, luxury vehicles, and cryptocurrency.
The crackdown uncovered perpetrators operating from Russia, Eastern Europe, Pakistan, and several other countries. &nbsp;&#8220;These&nbsp;criminals didn't just steal someone&nbsp;else's money. They stole from&nbsp;you,&#8221; stated&nbsp;Matthew Galeotti, head of the Justice Department's criminal division. Approximately 100 licensed medical professionals, including 25 doctors, have been charged. The government has reported actual losses totaling $2.9 billion. Among the cases is a $10 billion urinary catheter scheme, underscoring the growing sophistication of transnational criminal organizations.
The scheme used stolen identities and personal information of over one million Americans, according to the Justice Department. 
The fraud, surpassing the previous record in the Justice Department's annual health care fraud crackdown, involves nearly 190 federal cases and more than 90 state cases that have been charged or unsealed since June 9.
SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46188192/trump-administration-reportedly-scales-back-ambitions-for-comprehensive-trade-deals" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Administration Reportedly Scales Back Ambitions For Comprehensive Trade Deals Before Tariff Deadline</a>
Why It Matters: This crackdown on health care fraud comes months after a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43879859/doj-investigates-unitedhealth-probe-accuses-of-inflating-medicare-diagnoses">civil fraud investigation</a> into UnitedHealth Group Inc.&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) Medicare billing practices by the Justice Department. The probe, which began in recent months, is set to examine UnitedHealth&#8217;s Medicare Advantage plans and physician groups following reports that the company received billions in federal payments for questionable diagnoses.
Moreover, this development is in line with the efforts to combat Medicare fraud, as outlined in Rep.&nbsp;Ro Khanna&#8216;s (D-Calif.) &#8220;Progressive Deficit Reduction Plan.&#8221; The plan, which was&nbsp;backed by billionaire investor <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/06/45900891/mark-cuban-backs-ro-khannas-12-trillion-progressive-deficit-reduction-plan-targeting-medicare-fraud-and-military-spending">Mark Cuban</a>, aims to slash the U.S. deficit by $12 trillion over the next decade, with a significant portion of the spending cuts targeted at Medicare fraud.
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>READ MORE: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/06/46056665/unitedhealth-cvs-among-major-insurers-to-fast-track-prior-authorizations-will-it-cut-profits-even-more">UnitedHealth, CVS Among Major Insurers To Fast-Track Prior Authorizations: Will It Cut Profits Even More?</a> </li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

News

DOJ Dismantles $14 Billion Healthcare Fraud Scheme In Largest-Ever Crackdown, Impacting Over 1 Million Americans

The Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule on Monday outlining changes to how Medicare pays home health agencies (HHAs) in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care" rel="noreferrer noopener">calendar year (CY) 2026</a>.
These updates are required by law and occur annually.
The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/calendar-year-cy-2026-home-health-prospective-payment-system-proposed-rule-fact-sheet-cms-1828-p#:~:text=For%20the%20CY%202026%20HH,30%2Dday%20base%20payment%20rate." rel="noreferrer noopener">rule</a> includes a routine payment increase of 2.4%, which would add about $425 million in funding. However, three other proposed changes would reduce payments:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>A permanent behavior adjustment would cut payments by about 3.7% ($655 million),</li>
<li>A temporary adjustment would reduce payments by 4.6% ($815 million),</li>
<li>A change to the outlier payment formula (FDL ratio) would result in an additional 0.5% ($90 million) reduction.</li>
</ul>
Overall, CMS estimates that total Medicare payments to home health agencies in 2026 will decrease by 6.4%, or approximately $1.135 billion, compared to 2025.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Stock In Focus</h2>
Specific to its coverage, William Blair notes that home health accounts for roughly 5% of Addus HomeCare Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADUS#NASDAQ">ADUS</a>) revenue and roughly 63% of Amedisys Inc&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMED#NASDAQ">AMED</a>) revenue (Amedisys is in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/24/11/41987383/unitedhealths-optum-defends-multi-billion-dollar-amedisys-deal-ensures-competitive-landscape" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">process of being</a> acquired by UnitedHealth Inc&#8216;s (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/unh#NYSE">UNH</a>) Optum.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Addus HomeCare</h2>
&#8220;In our view, Addus presents one of the few opportunities for public equity investors to gain exposure to the in-home care delivery theme, with a particular emphasis on nonmedical care,&#8221; William Balir wrote in an investor note on Monday.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42515091/home-based-health-service-provider-addus-homecare-is-well-positioned-to-grow-analyst" rel="noreferrer noopener">As US Faces Shortage Of Expensive Skilled Clinicians, Home-Based Health Service Provider Addus HomeCare Is Well-Positioned To Grow: Analyst</a>
Analyst Matt Larew views the company's differentiated position in the marketplace as supporting strong growth characteristics, which are expected to be at the high end of management's typical 3% to 5% organic baseline target. William Blair maintains an Outperform rating.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Amedisys</h2>
&#8220;We believe that Amedisys is well-positioned to take advantage of strong secular tailwinds that should support total volume growth in the company's markets (home health, hospice, and personal care) at least in the mid single digits for the next decade-plus,&#8221; the analyst wrote.
Amedisys' focus on quality and its well-rounded approach to in-home care position it to benefit more than most from the market's growth. However, in the short term, its stock will likely be influenced by labor trends, hospice recovery, home health payments, and the growth of its Contessa unit.
Looking further ahead, Amedisys is on track to become a top player in aging-in-place care. Through its mix of clinical expertise, technology, and on-the-ground staff, it will help insurers reduce costs and improve patient outcomes.
Price Action: ADUS closed at $115.19 on Monday. AMED stock is down 0.2% at $98.11 during the premarket session at the last check on Tuesday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46109624/rfk-jr-overhauls-cdc-vaccine-panel-sparking-expert-backlash-boycott-from-top-medical-group" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RFK Jr. Overhauls CDC Vaccine Panel, Sparking Expert Backlash, Boycott From Top Medical Group</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

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ADUS

AMED

Home Health Braces For Potential $1 Billion Cut In Medicare Payments

On CNBC's &#8220;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2025/06/30/final-trades-applied-materials-unitedhealth-mercado-libre.html">Halftime Report Final Trades</a>,&#8221; Jim Lebenthal at Cerity Partners named Applied Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AMAT/analyst-ratings">as his final trade.</a>
Supporting his view, Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Matthew Prisco maintained an Overweight rating for Applied Materials on June 24, raising the price target from $200 to $220.
Stephen Weiss, chief investment officer and managing partner of Short Hills Capital Partners, picked UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>).
Lending support to his choice, JP Morgan analyst Lisa Gill maintained a UnitedHealth Group rating of Overweight on June 20 and raised the price target from $405 to $418.
Don't forget to check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
Joseph M. Terranova is a senior managing director for Virtus Investment Partners, named MercadoLibre, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MELI#NASDAQ">MELI</a>) as his final trade.
Supporting his choice, Susquehanna analyst James Friedman, on June 26, maintained a Positive rating for MercadoLibre and raised the price target from $ 2,840 to $ 2,975.
Price Action:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Applied Materials shares fell 0.1% to close at $183.07 on Monday.</li>
<li>UnitedHealth Group rose 0.9% to settle at $311.97 during the session.</li>
<li>MercadoLibre shares gained 2.1% to settle at $2,613.63 on Monday.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/price-target/25/06/46169288/5-stocks-in-the-spotlight-wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts-weigh-in">5 Stocks In The Spotlight: Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts Weigh In</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

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Media

AMAT

MELI

MercadoLibre, Applied Materials And A Healthcare Stock On CNBC's 'Final Trades'

UnitedHealth Group's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) short percent of float has risen 8.33% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 11.75 million shares sold short, which is 1.3% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.0 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>UnitedHealth Group Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1751306429_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for UnitedHealth Group has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing UnitedHealth Group's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>, UnitedHealth Group's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 5.21%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

How Do Investors Really Feel About UnitedHealth Group?

CNBC Halftime Report Final Trades: UnitedHealth Group, MercadoLibre, Applied Materials

<a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-supreme-court-expected-rule-obamacare-preventive-care-task-force-2025-06-27/" title="https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-supreme-court-expected-rule-obamacare-preventive-care-task-force-2025-06-27/">https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-supreme-court-expected-rule-obamacare-preventive-care-task-force-2025-06-27/</a>
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ALHC

CLOV

streetTRACKS Dow Jones U.S. Large Cap Value Index Fund

'US Supreme Court preserves key element of Obamacare preventive care'- Reuters

<a href="https://x.com/dorajfacundo/status/1937954599601623118" title="https://x.com/dorajfacundo/status/1937954599601623118">https://x.com/dorajfacundo/status/1937954599601623118</a>

Legal

Capital Forum Reporter Jarod Facundo Posts On X 'EXCLUSIVE - DOJ Antitrust leadership is considering changing the direction of its ongoing investigation into UnitedHealth Group to focus on the company's PBM, inspired by President Trump's drug pricing executive order and comments criticizing health care "middlemen."'

UBS analyst Kevin Caliendo maintains UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $400 to $385.

Price Target

UBS Maintains Buy on UnitedHealth Group, Lowers Price Target to $385

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) today announced that it recently became aware of an unsolicited "mini-tender" offer by Tutanota LLC (Tutanota) to purchase up to 175,000 shares of UnitedHealth Group's common stock, representing significantly less than 1% of UnitedHealth Group's common stock outstanding.
The offer price of $325.00 per share is conditioned on, among other things, the closing price per share of UnitedHealth Group's common stock exceeding $325.00 per share on the last full trading day before the offer expires. This means that unless this condition is waived by Tutanota, UnitedHealth Group shareholders who tender their shares in the offer will receive a below-market price. Tutanota further states in its offering documents that it expects to extend the offer for successive periods of 45 to 180 days until the market price of the shares exceeds the offer price.
UnitedHealth Group recommends that shareholders do not tender their shares in response to Tutanota's offer because the offer is at a price below a conditional market price for UnitedHealth Group's common stock and subject to numerous additional conditions. Shareholders who have already tendered their shares may withdraw them at any time by providing notice in the manner described in the Tutanota offering documents prior to the expiration of the offer, which is currently scheduled for 5 p.m. EDT, on Monday, June 23, 2025, unless extended or earlier terminated.
UnitedHealth Group does not endorse Tutanota's unsolicited mini-tender offer and is not associated in any way with Tutanota, its mini-tender offer, or its mini-tender offer documents.

UnitedHealth Urges Shareholders To Reject Tutanota "Mini-Tender" Offer Over Undervalued Terms, Added Conditions

<a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/lawmakers-seek-to-close-va-loophole-that-funnels-billions-to-private-medicare-insurers-cfbe0b19">https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/lawmakers-seek-to-close-va-loophole-that-funnels-billions-to-private-medicare-insurers-cfbe0b19</a>

ELEV

'Lawmakers Seek to Close VA Loophole That Funnels Billions to Private Medicare Insurers'- WSJ

Leading health insurers announced on Monday that they have agreed to a set of measures aimed at connecting patients to care faster and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/insurance">reducing paperwork for providers</a>.
What To Know: According to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/23/prior-authorizations-us-insurers-to-change-approval-process.html">CNBC</a>, several major U.S. health insurers — including CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>), UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) and Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ELV#NYSE">ELV</a>) — will voluntarily speed up and simplify the prior authorization process, which often causes delays and frustrations for patients <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/06/45845302/unitedhealth-eyes-retreat-from-latin-america-after-8-3-billion-loss">and healthcare providers. </a>
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/46030182/circle-stock-rockets-540-cathie-wood-says-weve-just-begun?utm_source=articleShare">Circle Stock Rockets 540%: Cathie Wood Says &#8216;We&#8217;ve Just Begun&#8217;</a>
These changes, coordinated through the industry group AHIP, will apply to commercial insurance as well as some Medicare and Medicaid plans, potentially benefiting 257 million Americans.
Key steps include:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Setting a common standard for submitting electronic prior authorization requests by 2027.</li>
<li>By that time, at least 80% of electronic requests with all required documents will receive real-time responses.</li>
<li>Reducing the number of services that require prior authorization by 2026.</li>
<li>Streamlining processes to lessen the administrative burden on doctors and hospitals, many of whom still use paper forms.</li>
</ul>
Why It Matters: The insurers acknowledged that while these changes could increase patients' use of care, possibly affecting profits, they are necessary to improve the healthcare system.&nbsp;
Healthcare stocks are already underperforming <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/06/45997946/stock-market-strategy-investing-analysis-healthcare-stocks-united-health">the broader market</a> by the widest margin since 2008, as investors favor technology and AI companies.&nbsp;
The Healthcare Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) now trades at its lowest value relative to the S&amp;P 500 in over a decade — a 40% drop from 2015 levels.
History shows that such deep undervaluation in healthcare often leads to strong rebounds, as seen after similar slumps in 2001 and 2008. Major companies like UnitedHealth, Eli Lilly and Merck have all posted steep declines this year.
Despite recent struggles, analysts are optimistic: 59 out of 60 healthcare companies in XLV have 12-month price targets above current prices, with an average expected upside of 17%.&nbsp;
Read Next:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45971345/sunrun-first-solar-plunge-solar-stocks-hit-hard-by-trump-tax-bill-latest?utm_source=articleShare">&nbsp;</a>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45971345/sunrun-first-solar-plunge-solar-stocks-hit-hard-by-trump-tax-bill-latest?utm_source=articleShare">Sunrun, First Solar Plunge—Solar Stocks Hit Hard By Trump Tax Bill: Latest</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock&nbsp;

Movers

UnitedHealth, CVS Among Major Insurers To Fast-Track Prior Authorizations: Will It Cut Profits Even More?

<ul>
<li>HIMS</li>
<li>TSLA</li>
<li>CRCL</li>
<li>GLD</li>
<li>GOOGL</li>
<li>BULL</li>
<li>GOOG</li>
<li>NVO</li>
<li>AMD</li>
<li>UNH</li>
</ul>
Data from <a href="https://swaggystocks.com/dashboard/wallstreetbets/ticker-sentiment">https://swaggystocks.com/dashboard/wallstreetbets/ticker-sentiment</a>
&nbsp;

BULL

CRCL

GOOG

GOOGL

Hims & Hers Health, Inc. Class A Common Stock

HIMS

TSLA

Top 10 Trending Stocks On WallStreetBets As Of June 23, 2025 (Via Swaggy Stocks)

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Health Care sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>NVO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$26.6K</td>
<td>6.2K</td>
<td>4.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HIMS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$148.2K</td>
<td>5.5K</td>
<td>773</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UNH</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/17/27</td>
<td>$260.00</td>
<td>$50.1K</td>
<td>43</td>
<td>11</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MDGL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/17/25</td>
<td>$300.00</td>
<td>$32.5K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MCK</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$640.00</td>
<td>$86.9K</td>
<td>58</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• For NVO (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 56 day(s) on August 15, 2025. This event was a transfer of 70 contract(s) at a $80.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 7 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.6K, with a price of $380.0 per contract. There were 6204 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 4845 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding HIMS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HIMS#NYSE">HIMS</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 210 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 152 contract(s) at a $100.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $148.2K, with a price of $975.0 per contract. There were 5518 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 773 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For UNH (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 910 day(s) on December 17, 2027. This event was a transfer of 11 contract(s) at a $260.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $50.1K, with a price of $4555.0 per contract. There were 43 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 11 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MDGL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MDGL#NASDAQ">MDGL</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 119 day(s) on October 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 10 contract(s) at a $300.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $32.5K, with a price of $3250.0 per contract. There were 1670 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 10 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MCK (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCK#NYSE">MCK</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be neutral, is expiring today. Parties traded 10 contract(s) at a $640.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $86.9K, with a price of $8690.0 per contract. There were 58 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 10 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Options

MDGL

5 Health Care Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

Analysts' ratings for UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) over the last quarter vary from bullish to bearish, as provided by 32 analysts.
The table below provides a concise overview of recent ratings by analysts, offering insights into the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and drawing comparisons with the preceding months for a holistic perspective.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">5</td>
<td align="right">23</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="right">18</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts provide deeper insights through their assessments of 12-month price targets, revealing an average target of $439.91, a high estimate of $660.00, and a low estimate of $270.00. This current average has decreased by 21.39% from the previous average price target of $559.62. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1750424417_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Understanding Analyst Ratings: A Comprehensive Breakdown</h2>
A comprehensive examination of how financial experts perceive UnitedHealth Group is derived from recent analyst actions. The following is a detailed summary of key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Lisa Gill</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$418.00</td>
<td>$405.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Ha</td>
<td>Baird</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$312.00</td>
<td>$356.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jessica Tassan</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$353.00</td>
<td>$552.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Mok</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
<td>$362.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matthew Gillmor</td>
<td>Keybanc</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
<td>$450.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sidharth Sahoo</td>
<td>HSBC</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Reduce</td>
<td>$270.00</td>
<td>$490.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Justin Lake</td>
<td>Wolfe Research</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$390.00</td>
<td>$501.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ryan Langston</td>
<td>TD Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$308.00</td>
<td>$520.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Macdonald</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$360.00</td>
<td>$580.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ann Hynes</td>
<td>Mizuho</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
<td>$515.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ben Hendrix</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$355.00</td>
<td>$525.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Mok</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$362.00</td>
<td>$513.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lisa Gill</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$405.00</td>
<td>$525.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>George Hill</td>
<td>Deutsche Bank</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$362.00</td>
<td>$521.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Wiederhorn</td>
<td>Oppenheimer</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
<td>$600.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Stephen Baxter</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$351.00</td>
<td>$677.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ricky Goldwasser</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$374.00</td>
<td>$563.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kevin Fischbeck</td>
<td>B of A Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
<td>$560.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Ha</td>
<td>Baird</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$356.00</td>
<td>$510.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matthew Gillmor</td>
<td>Keybanc</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$450.00</td>
<td>$575.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Ha</td>
<td>Baird</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$510.00</td>
<td>$640.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Mok</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$513.00</td>
<td>$560.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lisa Gill</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$525.00</td>
<td>$652.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ben Hendrix</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$525.00</td>
<td>$655.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ricky Goldwasser</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$563.00</td>
<td>$664.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Macdonald</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$580.00</td>
<td>$660.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Mok</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$560.00</td>
<td>$642.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tim Rezvan</td>
<td>Keybanc</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$575.00</td>
<td>$650.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>John Ransom</td>
<td>Raymond James</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Strong Buy</td>
<td>$540.00</td>
<td>$635.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Wiederhorn</td>
<td>Oppenheimer</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$600.00</td>
<td>$640.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Macdonald</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$660.00</td>
<td>$610.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ann Hynes</td>
<td>Mizuho</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$650.00</td>
<td>$600.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Responding to changing market dynamics and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their response to recent developments related to UnitedHealth Group. This offers insight into analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Offering a comprehensive view, analysts assess stocks qualitatively, spanning from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of UnitedHealth Group compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts predict movements in price targets, offering estimates for UnitedHealth Group's future value. Examining the current and prior targets offers insights into analysts' evolving expectations.</li>
</ul>
For valuable insights into UnitedHealth Group's market performance, consider these analyst evaluations alongside crucial financial indicators. Stay well-informed and make prudent decisions using our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/UNH/analyst-ratings?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Stay up to date on UnitedHealth Group analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Delving into UnitedHealth Group's Background</h2>
UnitedHealth Group is one of the largest private health insurers and provides medical benefits to about 51 million members globally, including 1 million outside the US as of December 2024. As a leader in employer-sponsored, self-directed, and government-backed insurance plans, UnitedHealth has obtained massive scale in medical insurance. Along with its insurance assets, UnitedHealth's Optum franchises help create a healthcare services colossus that spans everything from pharmaceutical benefits to providing outpatient care and analytics to both affiliated and third-party customers.
<h3>UnitedHealth Group's Economic Impact: An Analysis</h3>
Market Capitalization: Boasting an elevated market capitalization, the company surpasses industry averages. This signals substantial size and strong market recognition.
Revenue Growth: UnitedHealth Group's remarkable performance in 3M is evident. As of 31 March, 2025, the company achieved an impressive revenue growth rate of 9.8%. This signifies a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to competitors, the company encountered difficulties, with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Health Care sector.
Net Margin: UnitedHealth Group's net margin is impressive, surpassing industry averages. With a net margin of 5.74%, the company demonstrates strong profitability and effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): The company's ROE is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive ROE of 6.7%, the company showcases effective utilization of equity capital.
Return on Assets (ROA): UnitedHealth Group's ROA surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 2.07% ROA, the company effectively utilizes its assets for optimal returns.
Debt Management: With a below-average debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86, UnitedHealth Group adopts a prudent financial strategy, indicating a balanced approach to debt management.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: What Are They?</h2>
Benzinga tracks 150 analyst firms and reports on their stock expectations. Analysts typically arrive at their conclusions by predicting how much money a company will make in the future, usually the upcoming five years, and how risky or predictable that company's revenue streams are.
Analysts attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish their ratings on stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter or whenever the company has a major update.
Some analysts also offer predictions for helpful metrics such as earnings, revenue, and growth estimates to provide further guidance as to what to do with certain tickers. It is important to keep in mind that while stock and sector analysts are specialists, they are also human and can only forecast their beliefs to traders.
Breaking: Wall Street's Next Big Mover
Benzinga's #1 analyst just identified a stock poised for explosive growth. This under-the-radar company could surge 200%+ as major market shifts unfold. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/turning-point-trader-checkout-2/?t=Tu1tu3arja3be22tu36&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantag">Click here for urgent details</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Analyst Expectations For UnitedHealth Group's Future

JP Morgan analyst Lisa Gill maintains UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $405 to $418.

JP Morgan Maintains Overweight on UnitedHealth Group, Raises Price Target to $418

A heated debate over the U.S. healthcare system erupted on X, pitting billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban against Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) over the root causes of soaring drug prices.
What Happened: The clash, unfolding as of Friday, has reignited discussions on Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and Big Pharma's tax practices, with the Senate poised to address reform amid rising public scrutiny.
Enter Cuban, the Dallas Mavericks owner and founder of Cost Plus Drugs, who fired back with a pointed correction.
In a post quoting Warren, Cuban argued that PBMs—not Big Pharma—are the true culprits behind inflated drug prices.
&#8220;PBMs corrupt healthcare,&#8221; he wrote, explaining that these intermediaries control formularies and manipulate prices to maximize rebate revenue, with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45487788/trumps-drug-price-order-hits-pbms-hardest-cvs-cigna-unh-in-focus-as-experts-highlight-racket-and-pricing-distortion">three major PBMs</a> negotiating over 90% of rebates for commercial insurance plans. 
Warren, in her post, had blamed pharmaceutical giants like Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) for charging Americans the &#8220;highest drug prices in the world&#8221; while paying &#8220;zero dollars in federal taxes.&#8221;
Citing data from her Senate Finance Committee role, Warren highlighted how these companies, alongside AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBV#NYSE">ABBV</a>), Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMGN#NASDAQ">AMGN</a>), and Merck &amp; Co Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>), have exploited tax loopholes from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to shield billions in profits.
&#8220;Republicans want to make it worse. I&#8217;m fighting back,&#8221; she declared, sharing <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/17/pfizer-merck-jj-others-face-scrutiny-over-tax-loophole-extension.html">a</a> CNBC headline and urging action against what she calls a &#8220;rigged tax system.&#8221; 
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">No. It&#39;s because PBMs corrupt healthcare. Big Pharma wishes they could set their own pricing. They don&#39;t. PBMs control formularies and manipulate prices, in exchange for providing pharma access to patients. It&#39;s how they maximize rebate revenue. In fact, 3 PBMs NEGOTIATE… <a href="https://t.co/GpN4mnzvOM">https://t.co/GpN4mnzvOM</a>
&mdash; Mark Cuban (@mcuban) <a href="https://twitter.com/mcuban/status/1935705831930298562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/06/46013679/dan-ives-says-market-is-massively-underestimating-this-ai-play-urges-investors-to-look-beyong-mag-7">Dan Ives Says Market Is ‘Massively Underestimating' This AI Play, Urges Investors To Look Beyond Mag 7</a>
Why It Matters: Cuban has been a c<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44674382/mark-cuban-says-big-insurance-companies-and-pbms-control-healthcare-costs-everyone-has-to-kiss-their-a-and-accept-the-complications">ritic of the healthcare system</a>, saying that it should be simple. According to him, it&#8217;s become overly complicated by big insurance companies and PBMs.
These groups, he says, act as middlemen, controlling not just the costs but also the accessibility of care.
He blames PBMs for lack of transparency, inflated specialty drug prices, rebate distortion, formulary restrictions, and &#8220;Sh–ing on&#8221; on independent pharmacies.
Some significant firms engaged in the PBM business listed in the U.S. include;
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Stocks</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
<td>One Year Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>)</td>
<td>51.15%</td>
<td>9.57%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cigna Group. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CI#NYSE">CI</a>)</td>
<td>14.54%</td>
<td>-6.95%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>)</td>
<td>-39.11%</td>
<td>-36.60%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Meanwhile, here is how some pharmaceutical sector ETFs have performed;
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Pharma ETFs</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
<td>One Year Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPH#NASDAQ">PPH</a>)</td>
<td>1.69%</td>
<td>-4.48%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares US Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IHE#NYSE">IHE</a>)</td>
<td>-0.49%</td>
<td>-1.85%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PJP#NYSE">PJP</a>)</td>
<td>-3.23%</td>
<td>-1.64%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR S&amp;P Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XPH#NYSE">XPH</a>)</td>
<td>-4.06%</td>
<td>2.61%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KraneShares MSCI All China Health Care Index ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KURE#NYSE">KURE</a>)</td>
<td>20.55%</td>
<td>22.94%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTXH#NASDAQ">FTXH</a>)</td>
<td>-5.44%</td>
<td>-6.27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Direxion Daily Pharmaceutical &amp; Medical (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PILL#NYSE">PILL</a>)</td>
<td>-23.49%</td>
<td>-14.63%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, were mixed in premarket on Friday. The SPY was down 0.30% at $595.67, while the QQQ was 0.015% higher at $529.07, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/46016347/this-stock-just-popped-30-in-5-days-now-expert-says-it-looks-potentially-explosive">This Stock Just Popped 30% In 5 Days — Now Expert Says It ‘Looks Potentially Explosive'</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Equities

Insurance

ABBV

FTXH

iShares Dow Jones US Pharmaceuticals Index Fund

KURE

PILL

Merrill Lynch Pharmaceutical HOLDRs Trust

Mark Cuban Corrects Elizabeth Warren As She Slams JNJ, PFE For Higher Prices And Zero Taxes On Big Pharma: 'PBMs Corrupt Healthcare'

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with UNH, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 128 uncommon options trades for UnitedHealth Group.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 38% bullish and 44%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 47 are puts, for a total amount of $3,510,411, and 81 are calls, for a total amount of $11,494,575.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $135.0 to $580.0 for UnitedHealth Group during the past quarter. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for UnitedHealth Group's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of UnitedHealth Group's whale trades within a strike price range from $135.0 to $580.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>UnitedHealth Group Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1750276889_0_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>UNH</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$4.45</td>
<td>$4.35</td>
<td>$4.35</td>
<td>$330.00</td>
<td>$652.6K</td>
<td>7.3K</td>
<td>2.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UNH</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>07/25/25</td>
<td>$91.4</td>
<td>$90.1</td>
<td>$90.74</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
<td>$462.8K</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UNH</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/03/25</td>
<td>$14.15</td>
<td>$14.1</td>
<td>$14.1</td>
<td>$300.00</td>
<td>$282.0K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
<td>659</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UNH</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/03/25</td>
<td>$13.85</td>
<td>$13.75</td>
<td>$13.85</td>
<td>$300.00</td>
<td>$276.6K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
<td>458</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UNH</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$6.1</td>
<td>$5.95</td>
<td>$6.1</td>
<td>$250.00</td>
<td>$275.1K</td>
<td>6.7K</td>
<td>638</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About UnitedHealth Group</h3>
UnitedHealth Group is one of the largest private health insurers and provides medical benefits to about 51 million members globally, including 1 million outside the US as of December 2024. As a leader in employer-sponsored, self-directed, and government-backed insurance plans, UnitedHealth has obtained massive scale in medical insurance. Along with its insurance assets, UnitedHealth's Optum franchises help create a healthcare services colossus that spans everything from pharmaceutical benefits to providing outpatient care and analytics to both affiliated and third-party customers.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with UnitedHealth Group, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Current Position of UnitedHealth Group</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 8,072,200, the UNH's price is down by -0.11%, now at $308.52. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 41 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On UnitedHealth Group</h3>
In the last month, 5 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $352.6.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Keybanc keeps a Overweight rating on UnitedHealth Group with a target price of $400. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Piper Sandler continues to hold a Overweight rating for UnitedHealth Group, targeting a price of $353. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Wolfe Research persists with their Outperform rating on UnitedHealth Group, maintaining a target price of $390. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Barclays persists with their Overweight rating on UnitedHealth Group, maintaining a target price of $350. 
&#x2A; In a cautious move, an analyst from HSBC downgraded its rating to Reduce, setting a price target of $270. 
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest UnitedHealth Group options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.

UnitedHealth Group Options Trading: A Deep Dive into Market Sentiment

Healthcare stocks are trailing the broader market by margins not seen since 2008, as tumbling pharma giants and a stampede toward tech and AI names have left the sector <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets">deeply out of interest.</a>
The Healthcare Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) now trades at just 0.2234 shares of the S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), its weakest relative value in more than a decade. In 2015, that ratio was 0.35, making today&#8217;s level a 40% drop in comparative value.
In May 2025, healthcare lagged the S&amp;P 500 by 11.2%, the worst single-month relative performance since records began. Versus the red-hot tech sector, the gap is even more extreme — at levels last seen in February 2000.
Have we been here before? Yes, and history suggests this kind of extreme undervaluation often triggers powerful reversals.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Last Time Healthcare Was This Unloved Was In 2008&#8230;</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="528" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/18082457/image-283-1024x528.png" alt="" class="wp-image-953798" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/18082457/image-283-1024x528.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/18082457/image-283-300x155.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/18082457/image-283-768x396.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/18082457/image-283-1536x792.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/18082457/image-283-2048x1056.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
Chart: TradingView
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">&#8230;When A Monster Rally Followed</h3>
After similar dislocations in May 2008 and October/November 2001, healthcare stocks sharply outpaced the broader market. 
From November 2001 to September 2002, the sector outperformed the S&amp;P 500 by 41%. From June 2008 to February 2009, it beat the market by a similar 40%.
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/guidance/25/06/45928561/gold-biggest-boom-in-decades-and-investors-are-still-missing-out">Gold&#8217;s Biggest Boom In Decades—And Investors Are Still Missing Out</a></li>
</ul>
When compared to tech stocks, the comeback is even more dramatic. 
Between March 2000 and September 2002, healthcare outperformed the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) by a staggering 390% as the dot-com bubble burst. 
These episodes followed the same pattern: investors often chased growth stocks until valuations became extreme. 
Healthcare, seen as a comparatively safer sector, then spiked as capital rotated back to battered value and defensive names.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="528" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/18085730/image-288-1024x528.png" alt="" class="wp-image-953845" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/18085730/image-288-1024x528.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/18085730/image-288-300x155.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/18085730/image-288-768x396.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/18085730/image-288-1536x792.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/18085730/image-288-2048x1056.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What's Triggering The Current Healthcare Slump?</h3>
Big pharma and healthcare insurers are dragging the whole sector lower. UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) is down 40% year to date, its second-worst year since 1987.
Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>) fell 18% in May, its steepest monthly drop since February 2009. 
Meanwhile, Merck &amp; Co. Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>) has logged nine straight months of declines — a feat unmatched since the company went public in 1970.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Are Healthcare Stocks A Buy Right Now?</h3>
Wall Street analysts are optimistic that the sector might soon head towards a turnaround.
Of the 60 companies in the Healthcare Select Sector SPDR Fund, 59 have average 12-month analyst price targets above current market prices. The sector's weighted average upside stands at 17%.
For key players in the sector, Eli Lilly has a median analyst target that&#8217;s 22% above its current share price. UnitedHealth Group is expected to rise by 18%, while Merck &amp; Co. is forecasted 27% higher the next 12 months.
More traditional valuation metrics also support the bullish case. The sector trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 21, well below the 30 for the S&amp;P 500 — highlighting just how steep the current discount is.
Read now:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/06/45974992/everyone-now-hates-the-dollar-is-that-the-ultimate-buy-signal">Everyone Now Hates The Dollar—Is That The Ultimate Buy Signal? </a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Sector ETFs

Tech

ETFs

Nobody Wants To Touch Healthcare Stocks Now – That Might Be A Big Mistake

Press Releases

UnitedHealth Group Updates on Annual Shareholder Meeting, Board Actions

AM Best Revises Outlooks to Negative for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and Its Subsidiaries

UNH INVESTOR ALERT: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC Announces that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated Investors with Substantial Losses Have Opportunity to Lead Class Action Lawsuit

INVESTOR ALERT: Pomerantz Law Firm Reminds Investors with Losses on their Investment in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated of Class Action Lawsuit and Upcoming Deadlines - UNH

UNITEDHEALTH ALERT: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. Announces that a Class Action Lawsuit Has Been Filed Against UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and Encourages Investors to Contact the Firm

UnitedHealth Group Recommends Shareholders Reject "Mini-Tender" Offer by Tutanota

AM Best Assigns Issue Credit Ratings to UnitedHealth Group Incorporated's New Senior Unsecured Notes

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated Investors: Please contact the Portnoy Law Firm to recover your losses. July 7, 2025 Deadline to file Lead Plaintiff Motion

Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. Reminds Investors That Class Action Lawsuits Have Been Filed Against UnitedHealth, Bitfarms, and Reddit and Encourages Investors to Contact the Firm

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated Investor Alert (NYSE: UNH): Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP Investigating Potential Shareholder Claims Against the Company's Officers and Directors Following DOJ Probe and for Possible False Statements

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