Trailing Dividend / Share
$15.20
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) Dividend History
Income profile from 1990 to 2026 with payout safety and yield-on-cost trend
Dividend Yield
5.2%
Payout Ratio
97.2%
At Risk
Dividend Streak
25 years
3-Second Income Check
Safety
97.2% payout ratio with at risk safety profile.
Consistency
25 straight years of dividend increases.
Income Trend
Yield on cost is 2.5% and trend is rising.
Dividend Scorecard
Yield & Income
Dividend Yield5.2%
Trailing DPS$15.20
FrequencyAnnual
Payments / 12M5
Payout Safety
Earnings Payout97.2%
Earnings SafetyAt Risk
FCF Payout43.2%
FCF SafetyWell Covered
Piotroski F-Score6/9
Growth
Growth Streak25 years
3Y CAGR10.9%
5Y CAGR12.6%
Yield on Cost (5Y)2.5%
YOC Trendrising
Total Returns
Buyback Yield2.4%
Total Shareholder Yield7.6%
1Y Total Return-36.4%
5Y Total Return-1.5%
Div Contribution (5Y)10.8%
Estimated $10K growth (return + dividends):
5Y ago$9,84510Y ago$29,14720Y ago$60,692
Uses precomputed total return metrics from screening data (not lot-by-lot dividend reinvestment transactions). Different time windows can produce different outcomes depending on market regime and entry point.
Income Growth Story
Dividend per share and yield on cost over time (37 years of payments)
Dividend Safety Story
EPS is the container — dividend is what's drawn out
Dividend Analysis
Payout Safety
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated distributes 97.2% of earnings as dividends (At Risk). When measured against free cash flow—a stricter test—the payout ratio stands at 43.2%, rated "Well Covered".
Piotroski F-Score: 6/9 — moderate financial health.
Growth Track Record
UNH has raised its dividend for 25 consecutive years, with a 3-year CAGR of 10.9% and 5-year CAGR of 12.6%.
Total Shareholder Returns
Beyond cash dividends, UNH returns capital through share repurchases. The combined picture: 5.2% dividend yield, 2.4% buyback yield, 7.6% total shareholder yield.
Income Trend & Total Return
Yield on cost (5-year basis) has reached 2.5% and is currently rising. The 5-year total return is -1.5%, with dividends contributing 10.8% of that performance.
DRIP Growth
A $10,000 investment made 10 years ago with dividends reinvested would have grown to approximately $29,147 today.
Elevated payout ratio — dividend sustainability should be monitored closely.
Recent Dividend Payments
Last 20 payments · Annual
TTM Total$37.16
Avg/Payment$1.8580
| Ex-Date | Amount | Change | Yield % | Payment Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 9, 2026Latest | $2.2100 | — | 3.01% | Mar 17, 2026 |
| Dec 8, 2025 | $2.2100 | — | 2.70% | Dec 16, 2025 |
| Sep 15, 2025 | $2.2100 | — | 2.48% | Sep 23, 2025 |
| Jun 16, 2025 | $2.2100 | ↑ +5.2% | 2.77% | Jun 24, 2025 |
| Mar 10, 2025 | $2.1000 | — | 1.75% | Mar 18, 2025 |
| Dec 9, 2024 | $2.1000 | — | 1.46% | Dec 17, 2024 |
| Sep 16, 2024 | $2.1000 | — | 1.35% | Sep 24, 2024 |
| Jun 17, 2024 | $2.1000 | ↑ +11.7% | 1.58% | Jun 25, 2024 |
Dividend Peer Comparison
Peer group: Vertically Integrated Payer-PBM Platforms
#1 yield in peer group
Div Yield
5.2%
#1 of 3
Safety
At Risk
97.2% payout
Streak
25Y
12.6% 5Y CAGR
Total Shareholder
7.6%
#2 of 3
Annual Dividend History
38 years of dividend data
GrowthDecline
| Year | DPS | YoY | Pmts | EPS | Payout | Coverage | YOC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $2.21 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 0.6% |
| 2025 | $8.73 | 6.7% | 4 | $15.58 | 56.0% | 1.78x | 2.5% |
| 2024 | $8.18 | 12.2% | 4 | $15.51 | 52.7% | 1.90x | 2.3% |
| 2023 | $7.29 | 13.9% | 4 | $23.86 | 30.6% | 3.27x | 2.1% |
| 2022 | $6.40 | 14.3% | 4 | $21.18 | 30.2% | 3.31x | 1.8% |
| 2021 | $5.60 | 15.9% | 4 | $18.08 | 31.0% | 3.23x | 1.6% |
| 2020 | $4.83 | 16.7% | 4 | $16.03 | 30.1% | 3.32x | 1.4% |
| 2019 | $4.14 | 20.0% | 4 | $14.33 | 28.9% | 3.46x | 1.2% |
| 2018 | $3.45 | 20.0% | 4 | $12.19 | 28.3% | 3.53x | 1.0% |
| 2017 | $2.88 | 21.1% | 4 | $10.72 | 26.8% | 3.73x | 0.8% |
See UNH's True Return
Price is only half the story. See total return with reinvested dividends.
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Start ComparisonFrequently Asked Questions
How much dividend does UNH pay per share?
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) pays a trailing 12-month dividend of $15.20 per share, with a current dividend yield of +5.2%. Payments are made Annual.
When is UNH's next ex-dividend date?
UNH's most recent ex-dividend date is N/A. You must own shares before the ex-dividend date to receive the next payment. UNH typically pays dividends Annual.
Is UNH's dividend safe?
UNH's dividend safety is rated "At Risk" based on an earnings payout ratio of +97.2% and FCF payout ratio of +43.2%. With 25 consecutive years of dividend growth, the track record supports sustainability.
Is UNH a Dividend Aristocrat?
Yes, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is classified as a Dividend Aristocrat with 25 consecutive years of dividend increases. The 5-year dividend CAGR is +12.6%, demonstrating above-inflation dividend growth.
How often does UNH pay dividends?
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated pays dividends Annual. The trailing 12-month total is $15.20 per share. Dividend data on this page covers 36+ years from 1990 to 2026.
How much would $10,000 invested in UNH grow with dividend reinvestment?
With dividends reinvested (DRIP), $10,000 invested in UNH five years ago would be worth approximately $9,845 today. This includes both price appreciation and compounded dividend reinvestment. Use the DRIP calculator above for other time periods.
What is UNH's yield on cost for long-term holders?
UNH's yield on cost — the current dividend divided by the original purchase price — is +2.5% for a 5-year holding period. This means long-term holders earn a higher effective yield than today's +5.2% market yield, thanks to consistent dividend growth.