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UnitedHealth's fundamental outlook suggests a scaled insurer whose earnings base remains highly sensitive to medical cost swings, with the combined ratio moving from 91.7% in 2025Q1 to 99.7% in 2025Q4 before recovering to 94.2% in 2026Q3.
Price trend, volume and key moving averages
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Revenue has stayed near $112B per quarter while the loss ratio swung between 67.3% and 83.7% over the period, suggesting that medical cost trends rather than top-line expansion are driving the earnings profile.
Q1 2026 MCR improved to 83.9%, down from 84.8% in Q1 2025, indicating better management of medical costs.
UnitedHealth raised its full-year 2026 EPS guidance to over $18.25, reflecting management's confidence.
Q1 2026 EPS was $7.23, exceeding expectations by 10%, with revenue at $111.7 billion.
Ongoing investigations by the DOJ into Medicare Advantage billing practices pose significant risks.
UNH anticipates losing over 3 million members in 2026, leading to the first revenue decline in a decade.
Adjusted medical care ratio rose to 88.9% in FY2025, indicating rising utilization trends and funding cuts.
Trailing total returns as of 11/7/2026, which may include dividends or other distributions. Benchmark is S&P 500 (^GSPC).
Check whether operating performance supports the current valuation.
Recent results and news deserve attention only when they alter the forward view.
| Quarter | EPS (Act vs Est) | Revenue (Act vs Est) |
|---|---|---|
Q4 2026Latest Oct 13, 2026 | $4.69+13.3% vs $4.14 | $112.7B+1.2% vs $111.3B |
Q3 2026 Jul 16, 2026 | $6.38+29.9% vs $4.91 | $112.0B+1.1% vs $110.8B |
Q2 2026 Apr 21, 2026 | $7.23+9.9% vs $6.58 | $111.7B+2.1% vs $109.4B |
Q1 2026 Jan 27, 2026 | $2.11+0.5% vs $2.10 | $113.2B-0.5% vs $113.8B |
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A potential Democrat-led Congress could shift investor focus from AI stocks to cyclical sectors, putting ADM, FCX, UNH, CASY and CR in the spotlight.
Benchmark UNH against direct peers instead of judging its metrics in isolation.
Key metrics vs top competitors for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH)
| Company | Price | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | Rev Growth (1Y) | Net Margin | ROE | Div Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $394.15 | $357.95B | 22.38 | 11.81% | 3.53% | 15.18% | 2.21% | |
| $83.85 | $106.99B | 9.79 | 7.85% | 2.63% | 14.1% | 3.19% | |
| $425.62 | $92.3B | 18.02 | 12.62% | 2.55% | 11.56% | 1.62% | |
| $293.59 | $77.66B | 12.93 | 11.26% | 2.09% | 14.02% | 2.06% | |
| $433.74 | $52.08B | 42.44 | 10.06% | 0.81% | 6.68% | 0.82% | |
| $69.74 | $34.45B | 23.59 | 19.44% | 0.75% | 6.76% | — |
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) vs competitors — business, growth, and fundamentals comparison against the closest industry rivals.
Verify the primary filings, follow material updates, and answer the remaining questions.
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) SEC filings — annual & quarterly reports (10-K, 10-Q)
Oct 13, 2026·SEC
Jul 16, 2026·SEC
Jun 5, 2026·SEC
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UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) stock FAQ — growth, dividends, profitability & financials explained
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) grew revenue by 3.3% over the trailing twelve months, compared with the twelve months before.
Yes. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) earned $15.88B in net income over the trailing twelve months (a 3.5% net margin).
Yes. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) pays a dividend that yields 2.21% at the current price, a moderate yield.
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) had a return on equity (ROE) of 15.2% over the trailing twelve months. That is above the market's typical 10-15%.
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) has a combined ratio of 95.8%. A ratio below 100% indicates underwriting profitability.
