Why UnitedHealth's Massive Bottom-Line Beat Doesn't Matter

Health and Healthcare

Published: July 15, 2020 9:51 am

When UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH) released its second-quarter financial results before the markets opened on Wednesday, the firm posted $7.12 in earnings per share (EPS) and $62.1 billion in revenue. Analysts were calling for EPS of $5.18 on $63.43 billion in revenue. In the same period of last year, UnitedHealth said it had $3.60 in EPS and revenue of $60.59 billion.

Earnings were substantially higher than anticipated this quarter due primarily to the unprecedented, temporary deferral of care in the company’s risk-based businesses. However, management was quick to say that this likely will be offset in the quarters ahead.

During the latest quarter, total revenues grew $4.1 billion, or 6.8%, year over year, reflecting balanced, broad-based revenue growth across Optum and UnitedHealthcare.

UnitedHealthcare revenues increased 2.5% year over year to $62.1 billion. Second-quarter earnings from operations at UnitedHealthcare were $9.2 billion, nearly double from the same period last year.

Optum second-quarter revenues and operating earnings of $32.7 billion and $2.2 billion, respectively, increased from $28.0 billion and $2.1 billion a year ago. This was led by earnings growth at OptumHealth.

Looking ahead, the company maintained its outlook for the 2020 full year. Currently, UnitedHealth expects to see EPS in the range of $16.25 to $16.55. Consensus estimates call for $16.29 in EPS and $258.69 billion in revenue for the full year.

On the books, the company ended the quarter with $25.59 billion in cash and cash equivalents, up from $14.25 billion at the end of 2019.

UnitedHealth stock traded down about 2% to $302.68 early Wednesday, in a 52-week range of $187.72 to $315.84. The consensus price target is $332.44.