UnitedHealth Group's stock has fallen 8.75% in pre-market trading, hitting a 20-day low amid rising medical costs and concerns over profitability.
The company reported that its consolidated medical care ratio has increased to 89.9%, up from 85.2% last year, indicating heightened service utilization that pressures profit margins. Additionally, analysts have expressed concerns about the company's operating margins, which are at their lowest in 25 years, primarily due to easing case denial rates. Despite these challenges, Wall Street maintains a 'Buy' recommendation for UNH, suggesting a potential upside.
The implications of these developments suggest that UnitedHealth Group is facing significant headwinds as it approaches its Q4 earnings report, with investors closely monitoring how the company plans to address rising costs and margin pressures.
Wall Street analysts forecast UNH stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for UNH is 397.82 USD with a low forecast of 330.00 USD and a high forecast of 444.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
19 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast UNH stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for UNH is 397.82 USD with a low forecast of 330.00 USD and a high forecast of 444.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
16 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 351.640
Low
330.00
Averages
397.82
High
444.00
Current: 351.640
Low
330.00
Averages
397.82
High
444.00
Morgan Stanley
Erin Wright
Overweight
downgrade
$411 -> $409
2026-01-25
New
Reason
Morgan Stanley
Erin Wright
Price Target
$411 -> $409
AI Analysis
2026-01-25
New
downgrade
Overweight
Reason
Morgan Stanley analyst Erin Wright lowered the firm's price target on UnitedHealth to $409 from $411 and keeps an Overweight rating on the shares ahead of the Q4 report. The firm sees investor sentiment on the shares ramping due to UnitedHealth's "disciplined" Medicare Advantage benefit reset. It expects an inline quarter from the company with potential for 2026 guidance upside.
Bernstein
Lance Wilkes
Outperform
maintain
$440 -> $444
2026-01-06
Reason
Bernstein
Lance Wilkes
Price Target
$440 -> $444
2026-01-06
maintain
Outperform
Reason
Bernstein analyst Lance Wilkes raised the firm's price target on UnitedHealth to $444 from $440 and keeps an Outperform rating on the shares. The firm sees a sector turnaround in the government managed care organization sector beginning in 2026, but expects to see bumps in the recovery. Bernstein believes all MCO sectors present attractive entry points, with Medicare Advantage likely to see the nearest term earnings improvements and Medicaid representing the most attractive valuations.
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Evercore ISI
Elizabeth Anderson
Outperform
initiated
$400
2026-01-06
Reason
Evercore ISI
Elizabeth Anderson
Price Target
$400
2026-01-06
initiated
Outperform
Reason
Evercore ISI analyst Elizabeth Anderson initiated coverage of UnitedHealth with an Outperform rating and $400 price target, which offers 20% upside. The firm believes the company's turnaround will be successful. UnitedHealth's 2026 will be a transition year, with 2027 and 2028 likely to show significant improvement, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Evercore sees upside to estimates and the stock's multiple in 2027 as UnitedHealth's "execution story becomes increasingly visible."
Barclays
Andrew Mok
Overweight
maintain
$386 -> $391
2026-01-05
Reason
Barclays
Andrew Mok
Price Target
$386 -> $391
2026-01-05
maintain
Overweight
Reason
Barclays analyst Andrew Mok raised the firm's price target on UnitedHealth to $391 from $386 and keeps an Overweight rating on the shares. The firm sees managed care stocks benefiting in 2026 from the prospects of margin expansion and rotation away from artificial intelligence-related stocks toward "de-rated underperformers."
About UNH
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is a healthcare and well-being company. Its segments include Optum Health, Optum Insight, Optum Rx, and UnitedHealthcare, which includes UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual, UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement and UnitedHealthcare Community & State. Optum Health offers comprehensive and patient-centered care, addressing the physical, mental, social, and financial well-being. Optum Health delivers primary, specialty and surgical care; helps patients and providers navigate and address complex, chronic and behavioral health needs. Optum Insight connects the healthcare system with services, analytics and platforms that make clinical, administrative and financial processes simpler and more efficient for all participants in the healthcare system. Optum Rx offers a range of pharmacy care services through retail pharmacies, through home delivery, specialty and community health pharmacies and the provision of in-home and community-based infusion services.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
