Why UnitedHealth Earnings Are Underwhelming

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By Chris Lange Updated Published
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Why UnitedHealth Earnings Are Underwhelming

© Courtesy of UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH | UNH Price Prediction) reported its second-quarter financial results before the markets opened on Thursday. The firm said that it had $3.60 in earnings per share (EPS) and $60.6 billion in revenue. That compared with consensus estimates of $3.45 in EPS and $60.59 billion in revenue, as well as the $3.14 per share and $56.09 billion posted in the same period of last year.

During the latest quarter, revenues grew 8.0% year over year to $60.6 billion, led by double-digit percentage revenue growth at UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement, OptumRx and OptumHealth.

Looking ahead to the full year, the company expects to see EPS in the range of $14.70 to $14.90. Consensus estimates call for $14.70 in EPS and $244.27 billion in revenue for the year.

[nativounit]

David S. Wichmann, CEO of UnitedHealth, commented:

Our results in the quarter reflect strong and balanced performance from both Optum and UnitedHealthcare and are driven by the 320,000 women and men of UnitedHealth Group who focus every day on creating value for those we serve.

Shares of UnitedHealth traded down over 1% at $262.49 on Thursday, in a 52-week range of $208.07 to $287.94. The consensus price target is $290.91.

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About the Author Chris Lange →

Chris Lange is a writer for 24/7 Wall St., based in Houston. He has covered financial markets over the past decade with an emphasis on healthcare, tech, and IPOs. During this time, he has published thousands of articles with insightful analysis across these complex fields. Currently, Lange's focus is on military and geopolitical topics.

Lange's work has been quoted or mentioned in Forbes, The New York Times, Business Insider, USA Today, MSN, Yahoo, The Verge, Vice, The Intelligencer, Quartz, Nasdaq, The Motley Fool, Fox Business, International Business Times, The Street, Seeking Alpha, Barron’s, Benzinga, and many other major publications.

A graduate of Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, Lange majored in business with a particular focus on investments. He has previous experience in the banking industry and startups.

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