옵션 체인은 다양한 행사가격과 만기일에 대한 UnitedHealth Group의 주식 옵션 주요 데이터를 보여줍니다. 트레이더들은 이 정보를 사용하여 잠재적 거래를 분석하고 UnitedHealth Group에 대한 시장 심리를 평가합니다..

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) 주식, 옵션 체인

UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group is one of the largest private health insurers, providing medical benefits to about 50 million members globally, including 1 million outside the us as June 2024. As a leader in employer-sponsored, self-directed, and government-backed insurance plans, UnitedHealth has obtained massive scale in managed care. Along with its insurance assets, UnitedHealth's continued investments in its Optum franchises have created a healthcare services colossus that spans everything from medical and pharmaceutical benefits to providing outpatient care and analytics to both affiliated and third-party customers.

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Tech

미국 역사상 가장 큰 의료 데이터 유출 사고로 부상한 유나이티드헬스 그룹(NYSE:UNH)은 지난해 사이버 공격으로 인해 1억 9천만 명의 미국인 개인 데이터가 유출되었다. 이 유출 사고는 2024년 2월에 발생하여 미국 의료 시스템에 광범위한 혼란을 초래하고 의료 제공자에 대한 수십억 달러의 지급을 지연시켰다.

유나이티드헬스 사이버 공격으로 1억 9천만명의 미국인 개인 정보 노출

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목요일 미국 증시가 하락세를 보이는 가운데 하루 종일 소매 투자자와 트레이더들의 주목을 받은 상위 종목은 다음과 같다. 애플, 리비안, 유나이티드헬스, 바이오메리카 및 테슬라

목요일 주목받은 주식: 애플, 리비안, 유나이티드헬스, 바이오메리카 및 테슬라

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General

유나이티드헬스 그룹(NYSE:UNH)은 유나이티드헬스케어 부문 CEO였던 브라이언 톰슨의 피살 사건과 미국 의료 시스템에 대한 대중의 광범위한 분노 등 격동의 4분기를 보낸 후 목요일(16일)에 재무 실적을 발표했다. 

유나이티드헬스 CEO, 헬스케어 비용 상승 속 병원·의사·제약사의 역할 강조

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated Common Stock (DE)

UnitedHealth Group Inc

EC Healthcare

United Hampshire US REIT

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>LXRX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$1.00</td>
<td>$168.9K</td>
<td>10.7K</td>
<td>17.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MDT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$93.00</td>
<td>$49.9K</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>604</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ABT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
<td>$42.9K</td>
<td>6.5K</td>
<td>520</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CVS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$57.50</td>
<td>$53.5K</td>
<td>1.9K</td>
<td>112</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AKRO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$102.8K</td>
<td>436</td>
<td>56</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LNTH</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$45.0K</td>
<td>124</td>
<td>47</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TMO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$650.00</td>
<td>$60.4K</td>
<td>70</td>
<td>30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>REGN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$720.00</td>
<td>$65.7K</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UNH</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$540.00</td>
<td>$27.6K</td>
<td>625</td>
<td>21</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding LXRX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LXRX#NASDAQ">LXRX</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 24 day(s) on February 21, 2025. Parties traded 11262 contract(s) at a $1.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $168.9K, with a price of $15.0 per contract. There were 10734 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 17155 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MDT (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MDT#NYSE">MDT</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 24 day(s) on February 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 316 contract(s) at a $93.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 12 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $49.9K, with a price of $158.0 per contract. There were 25 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 604 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding ABT (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABT#NYSE">ABT</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 24 day(s) on February 21, 2025. Parties traded 272 contract(s) at a $130.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 8 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $42.9K, with a price of $158.0 per contract. There were 6570 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 520 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CVS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 143 day(s) on June 20, 2025. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $57.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 7 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $53.5K, with a price of $535.0 per contract. There were 1923 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 112 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding AKRO (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AKRO#NASDAQ">AKRO</a>), we observe a call option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 24 day(s) on February 21, 2025. Parties traded 46 contract(s) at a $30.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $102.8K, with a price of $2235.0 per contract. There were 436 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 56 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For LNTH (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LNTH#NASDAQ">LNTH</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 143 day(s) on June 20, 2025. This event was a transfer of 47 contract(s) at a $100.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $45.0K, with a price of $968.0 per contract. There were 124 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 47 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding TMO (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMO#NYSE">TMO</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 234 day(s) on September 19, 2025. Parties traded 30 contract(s) at a $650.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $60.4K, with a price of $2016.0 per contract. There were 70 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 30 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding REGN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/REGN#NASDAQ">REGN</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 52 day(s) on March 21, 2025. Parties traded 25 contract(s) at a $720.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $65.7K, with a price of $2630.0 per contract. There were 6 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 25 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For UNH (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 79 day(s) on April 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 10 contract(s) at a $540.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.6K, with a price of $2760.0 per contract. There were 625 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 21 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Options

AKRO

LNTH

LXRX

REGN

9 Health Care Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

10 analysts have expressed a variety of opinions on UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) over the past quarter, offering a diverse set of opinions from bullish to bearish.
The table below offers a condensed view of their recent ratings, showcasing the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">8</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts provide deeper insights through their assessments of 12-month price targets, revealing an average target of $645.7, a high estimate of $700.00, and a low estimate of $600.00. This current average has increased by 1.81% from the previous average price target of $634.20. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738072853_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Analyzing Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Breakdown</h2>
The standing of UnitedHealth Group among financial experts becomes clear with a thorough analysis of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Stephen Baxter</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$660.00</td>
<td>$694.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Mok</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$642.00</td>
<td>$655.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Steve Barger</td>
<td>Keybanc</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$650.00</td>
<td>$650.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sarah James</td>
<td>Cantor Fitzgerald</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$700.00</td>
<td>$700.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Macdonald</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$610.00</td>
<td>$625.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jessica Tassan</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$600.00</td>
<td>$605.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Wiederhorn</td>
<td>Oppenheimer</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$640.00</td>
<td>$610.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Scott Fidel</td>
<td>Stephens &amp; Co.</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$675.00</td>
<td>$605.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>George Hill</td>
<td>Deutsche Bank</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$625.00</td>
<td>$595.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Mok</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$655.00</td>
<td>$603.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Responding to changing market dynamics and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their response to recent developments related to UnitedHealth Group. This offers insight into analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Gaining insights, analysts provide qualitative assessments, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings reflect expectations for the relative performance of UnitedHealth Group compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Understanding forecasts, analysts offer estimates for UnitedHealth Group's future value. Examining the current and prior targets provides insight into analysts' changing expectations.</li>
</ul>
Assessing these analyst evaluations alongside crucial financial indicators can provide a comprehensive overview of UnitedHealth Group's market position. Stay informed and make well-judged decisions with the assistance of our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/UNH/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on UnitedHealth Group analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>About UnitedHealth Group</h2>
UnitedHealth Group is one of the largest private health insurers, providing medical benefits to about 50 million members globally, including 1 million outside the us as June 2024. As a leader in employer-sponsored, self-directed, and government-backed insurance plans, UnitedHealth has obtained massive scale in managed care. Along with its insurance assets, UnitedHealth's continued investments in its Optum franchises have created a healthcare services colossus that spans everything from medical and pharmaceutical benefits to providing outpatient care and analytics to both affiliated and third-party customers.
<h3>Understanding the Numbers: UnitedHealth Group's Finances</h3>
Market Capitalization: Boasting an elevated market capitalization, the company surpasses industry averages. This signals substantial size and strong market recognition.
Revenue Growth: UnitedHealth Group displayed positive results in 3 months. As of 30 September, 2024, the company achieved a solid revenue growth rate of approximately 8.55%. This indicates a notable increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the revenue growth lags behind its industry peers. The company achieved a growth rate lower than the average among peers in Health Care sector.
Net Margin: The company's net margin is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive net margin of 6.11%, the company showcases strong profitability and effective cost control.
Return on Equity (ROE): The company's ROE is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive ROE of 6.59%, the company showcases effective utilization of equity capital.
Return on Assets (ROA): UnitedHealth Group's ROA surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 2.07% ROA, the company effectively utilizes its assets for optimal returns.
Debt Management: UnitedHealth Group's debt-to-equity ratio surpasses industry norms, standing at 0.83. This suggests the company carries a substantial amount of debt, posing potential financial challenges.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: Simplified</h2>
Analysts work in banking and financial systems and typically specialize in reporting for stocks or defined sectors. Analysts may attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter.
Some analysts also offer predictions for helpful metrics such as earnings, revenue, and growth estimates to provide further guidance as to what to do with certain tickers. It is important to keep in mind that while stock and sector analysts are specialists, they are also human and can only forecast their beliefs to traders.
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This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Analyst Ratings

10 Analysts Have This To Say About UnitedHealth Group

Wells Fargo analyst Stephen Baxter maintains UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $694 to $660.

Price Target

Wells Fargo Maintains Overweight on UnitedHealth Group, Lowers Price Target to $660

On CNBC's &#8220;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2025/01/24/final-trades-docusign-emcor-group-unitedhealth-and-guidewire-software.html">Halftime Report Final Trades</a>,&#8221; Bryn Talkington of Requisite Capital Management said DocuSign, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DOCU#NASDAQ">DOCU</a>) crushed its last quarter and is expected to report another strong quarter. This is a &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/24/12/42372173/docusign-stock-jumps-on-strong-q3-analysts-await-proof-of-sustained-growth">great entry point,&#8221; she added</a>.
On Dec. 5, DocuSign reported third-quarter revenue of $754.8 million, beating the consensus estimate of $745.26 million. The company reported third-quarter adjusted earnings of 90 cents per share, beating analyst estimates of 87 cents per share, according to Benzinga Pro.
In the tech sector, Jason Snipe of Odyssey Capital Advisors said he likes Emcore Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EMKR#NASDAQ">EMKR</a>), adding that it will be instrumental in the data center build out.
Emcore, on Jan. 3, posted stronger-than-expected sales for the fourth quarter.
Don't forget to check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
In the health care sector, Jim Lebenthal of Cerity Partners named UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) as his final trade.
As per recent news, UnitedHealth Group, on Jan. 23, confirmed a replacement to lead UnitedHealthcare, after the segment's former chief executive was murdered in New York last month. UnitedHealth Group announced that Tim Noel will be CEO of the UnitedHealthcare business.
Rounding out the trades, Joseph M. Terranova of Virtus Investment Partners picked Guidewire Software, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GWRE#NYSE">GWRE</a>).
Supporting his view, Goldman Sachs analyst Adam Hotchkiss, on Jan. 23, initiated coverage on Guidewire Software with a Buy rating and announced a price target of $210.
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>DocuSign shares gained 1.2% to close at $91.60 on Friday.</li>
<li>Emcore shares settled at $3.06 during Friday's session.</li>
<li>UnitedHealth shares gained 0.5% to close at $532.51 on Friday.</li>
<li>Guidewire Software shares gained 0.7% to settle at $205.96.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/01/43189390/top-3-materials-stocks-that-may-fall-off-a-cliff-in-january">Top 3 Materials Stocks That May Fall Off A Cliff In January</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Long Ideas

Media

Trading Ideas

DOCU

EMKR

GWRE

DocuSign, Emcore, Guidewire Software And A Health Care Stock On CNBC's 'Final Trades'

In what has emerged as the largest healthcare data breach in the U.S., the UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) cyberattack last year compromised the personal data of 190 million Americans.
The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/02/37284799/whats-going-on-with-uanitedhealth-stock-friday">breach</a>, which occurred in February 2024, caused widespread disruption in the U.S. healthcare system and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/04/38388554/patient-data-compromised-unitedhealth-group-admits-ransom-payment-in-cyberattack">delayed</a> billions of dollars in payments to medical providers.
What Happened: The largest health insurer in the U.S. stated that there is no evidence of misuse of the exposed data or unauthorized access to electronic medical records.
UnitedHealth has informed most affected individuals about the breach. The final impact figures will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights.
The incident has sparked a Congressional inquiry, raising concerns about the risks of concentrating medical data within UnitedHealth.
Why It Matters: The cyberattack on UnitedHealth has had far-reaching consequences. In March 2024, the company<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/03/37989390/unitedhealths-cyberattack-company-provides-aid-of-over-3b-to-affected-providers"> disclosed</a> that it had provided over $3.3 billion in advance payments to healthcare providers affected by the attack on its subsidiary, Change Healthcare.
This platform processes about 50% of U.S. medical claims, impacting nearly 900,000 physicians and numerous healthcare facilities. More than 40% of the aid was directed to safety net hospitals and health centers serving high-risk communities.
In April 2024, UnitedHealth <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/04/38388554/patient-data-compromised-unitedhealth-group-admits-ransom-payment-in-cyberattack">admitted</a> to paying a ransom to cybercriminals following the attack, highlighting the severity of the breach. The company has been working with law enforcement and cybersecurity experts to investigate the incident.
In May 2024, UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/05/38563578/us-senate-grills-unitedhealth-ceo-over-cyberattack-fallout-ransom-payment">assured</a> a U.S. Senate panel that the company&#8217;s issues did not pose a systemic risk to the broader economy. Senators had raised concerns about the potential impact of the cyberattack on patients and healthcare providers.
In December 2024, the Nebraska Attorney General <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/24/12/42621731/nebraska-attorney-general-sues-unitedhealth-over-massive-data-breach-that-disrupted-healthcare">filed</a> a lawsuit against UnitedHealth and its subsidiaries, alleging violations of consumer protection laws following the breach, which affected 575,000 Nebraskans.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

UnitedHealth Cyberattack Exposed Personal Data Of 190 Million Americans

CNBC Halftime Report Final Trades: DocuSign, EMCOR, UnitedHealth Group, Guidewire Software

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) confirmed a replacement to lead UnitedHealthcare, after the segment&#8217;s former chief executive was murdered <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/24/12/42316904/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-fatally-shot-outside-nyc-hotel">in New York last month.</a>
What Happened: UnitedHealth Group announced Thursday that Tim Noel will be CEO of the UnitedHealthcare business. The move comes shortly after the company's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/01/43025159/unitedhealth-q4-earnings-revenue-falls-short-medical-ratio-rises-to-85-5-stock-falls">quarterly earnings report.</a>
Noel joined UnitedHealth Group in 2007. He was most recently in charge of the company's Medicare and retirement business, as <a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/unitedhealthcare-taps-company-veteran-tim-noel-new-ceo">reported </a>by Fierce Healthcare.
"He brings unparalleled experience to this role with a proven track record and strong commitment to improving how health care works for consumers, physicians, employers, governments and our other partners," UnitedHealth Group said of Noel in a statement.
UnitedHealthcare is the largest individual player in Medicare Advantage with 7.8 million members, the company's latest earnings report revealed. The company also has 4.3 million members enrolled in Medicare supplement plans through UnitedHealthcare. It also has 3 million people enrolled in standalone Part D coverage.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/01/43042720/unitedhealth-the-number-one-company-on-sale-ahead-of-q4-earnings-report">UnitedHealth: The &#8216;Number One Company On Sale&#8217; Ahead Of Q4 Earnings Report</a>
Why It's Important: The health insurance company and sector have come under pressure after the death of UnitedHealth&#8217;s previous CEO, Brian Thompson.
Bullets found at the murder scene allegedly contained the words "deny," "defend" and "depose." A manifesto found on murder suspect Luigi Mangione linked the motive to targeting health insurance companies over caring more about profits over customers.
Thompson's death and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42605759/luigi-mangione-faces-death-penalty-details-show-attack-planned-for-months-the-target-is-insuranceit-checks-every-box">the possible motive </a>behind his killing have drawn scrutiny to the health insurance sector, including reports of high claim denial rates by companies like UnitedHealth Group.
UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty acknowledged the pressure on the health insurance sector during the company's earnings call. The industry needs to be "less confusing, less complex and less costly" for patients, he said.
The company's recent fourth-quarter financial results saw earnings per share beat consensus estimates and revenue of $100.8 billion miss Street estimates of $101.76 billion. UnitedHealth reaffirmed 2025 sales guidance of $450 billion to $455 billion, compared to a Street consensus of $448.13 billion.
Earnings per share guidance for 2025 is a range of $29.50 to $30.00, versus a Street consensus estimate of $29.83.
Mangione faces New York state charges along <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/24/12/42541669/luigi-mangione-indicted-on-first-degree-murder-charges-in-unitedhealthcare-ceos-death-senseless-act-of-violence">with federal charges</a>. He also faces the potential of the death penalty if found guilty of first-degree murder on federal charges.
Mangione <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42655562/luigi-mangione-suspected-ceo-assassin-pleads-not-guilty-in-new-york-court">pleaded not guilty</a> in New York on Dec. 23. He is expected to appear in federal court on Feb. 21.
Price Action: UnitedHealth was up 2% to $529.77 on the news of the announcement. Shares trade at $529.93 Friday versus a 52-week trading range of $436.38 to $630.73. The stock is up 3% over the last year.
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Image: Shutterstock

UnitedHealth Announces Replacement For Murdered Executive: Here's Who Will Lead Insurance Unit

UnitedHealthCare Taps Company Veteran Tim Noel As New CEO Following Brian Thompson Killing

The U.S. health agency, the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS), <a target="_blank" href="https://news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-and-business/us-medicare-agency-to-appeal-unitedhealth-star-rating-decision" rel="noreferrer noopener">announced</a> Tuesday that it will appeal a November 2024 ruling to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
What Happened: In October, around 40% of Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage earned four or more stars in 2025, a decline from this year, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2025-medicare-advantage-and-part-d-star-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">data</a> released by the CMS.&nbsp;UnitedHealth <a target="_blank" href="https://www.uhc.com/medicare/alphadog/UHOR25LP0264465_000" rel="noreferrer noopener">received</a> a four-star rating.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/10/41140319/humana-faces-sharp-decline-in-medicare-star-ratings-for-2025-braces-for-2026-revenue-hit" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humana Faces Sharp Decline In Medicare Star Ratings For 2025, Braces For 2026 Revenue Hit</a>
UnitedHealth, an insurance giant, filed a complaint to challenge an &#8216;arbitrary and capricious&#8217; and otherwise unlawful evaluation and rating of its performance.
CMS evaluates the plans at issue through a ranking process. It assigns Star Ratings that consumers rely upon to choose health insurance during annual enrollment periods (among other times).
One measure that CMS uses to conduct such evaluations is the performance of a plan&#8217;s customer service call center.
The <a target="_blank" href="https://aboutblaw.com/bfOZ" rel="noreferrer noopener">filing</a> said that CMS downgraded UnitedHealth&#8217;s Star Ratings based on an arbitrary and capricious assessment of how the company&#8217;s call center handled a single phone call that lasted less than ten minutes.
UnitedHealthcare explained that the caller was connected to a French-speaking customer service representative through its main call center. During the eight-minute call, faint rustling and breathing could be heard from the caller, but they never asked the required opening question.
Since the representative didn&#8217;t hear this question, they didn&#8217;t have a chance to respond. Although the caller was never placed on hold, the representative ended the call after waiting eight minutes without hearing the necessary question.
Why It Matters: A federal judge in Texas partially <a target="_blank" href="https://cases.justia.com/federal/district-courts/texas/txedce/6:2024cv00357/233270/28/0.pdf?ts=1732369927" rel="noreferrer noopener">ruled</a> in favor of UnitedHealthcare, stating that CMS acted unfairly by labeling a disputed call as &#8220;unsuccessful&#8221; without following its own guidelines.
The judge ordered CMS to recalculate UnitedHealthcare&#8217;s Star rating without factoring in the contested call.
Price Action: UNH stock is up 1.77% at $528.93 at last check Thursday.
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Image by Okan Caliskan via Pixabay

Government

Large Cap

Regulations

Legal

US Health Agency CMS To Appeal Medicare Star Ratings Recalculation Ruling

On CNBC's &#8220;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2025/01/21/final-trades-disney-affiliated-managers-unitedhealth-and-block.html">Halftime Report Final Trades</a>,&#8221; Joseph M. Terranova of Virtus Investment Partners picked Block, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XYZ#NYSE">XYZ</a>).
Adding support to his choice, Wells Fargo analyst Andrew Bauch, on Jan. 16, maintained Block with an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $85 to $95.
Don't forget to check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>.
Joshua Brown of Ritholtz Wealth Management named The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42890512/disney-now-has-157-million-monthly-ad-supported-viewers-on-disney-hulu-and-espn-globally">his final trade</a>.
In recent news, on Jan. 8, Walt Disney said that its streaming platforms have reached another milestone. The company&#8217;s streaming platforms, Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, have amassed approximately 157 million monthly active users globally who engage with ad-supported content.
In the healthcare sector, Stephanie Link of Hightower said she likes UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) at 17 times earnings and long-term average is 24 times. &#8220;I like the discount,&#8221; she added.
In recent earnings news, UnitedHealth Group, last week, reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings and reaffirmed 2025 guidance. The company reported adjusted EPS of $6.81, up from $6.16 a year ago, beating the consensus of $6.72.
Rounding out the trades, Brian Belski of BMO Capital Markets picked Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMG#NYSE">AMG</a>), a financial stock.
Supporting his view, Deutsche Bank analyst Brian Bedell, on Nov. 11, maintained Affiliated Managers Group with a Buy rating and raised the price target from $204 to $208.
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>Disney shares gained 1.6% to close at $108.70 during Tuesday's session.</li>
<li>Affiliated Managers Group gained 0.9% to settle at $188.73 on Tuesday.</li>
<li>UnitedHealth gained 3% to close at $524.99 on Tuesday.</li>
<li>Block shares rose 2.9% to close at $89.50.</li>
</ul>
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Image: Shutterstock

Block, Disney, Affiliated Managers Group And A Health Care Stock On CNBC's 'Final Trades'

On Thursday,&nbsp;UnitedHealth Group&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>)&nbsp;reported the fourth-quarter 2024 earnings and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/01/43025159/unitedhealth-q4-earnings-revenue-falls-short-medical-ratio-rises-to-85-5-stock-falls" rel="noreferrer noopener">reaffirmed 2025 guidance</a>.
The company reported adjusted EPS of $6.81, up from $6.16 a year ago, beating the&nbsp;consensus of $6.72. Revenues increased 6.8% year over year to $100.8 billion, missing the&nbsp;consensus of $101.76 billion.
KeyBanc Capital Markets says the third-quarter results included some unusual fluctuations but did not change the overall outlook.
One-time revenue factors drove the higher medical loss ratio (MLR), while core cost trends stayed consistent, impacted by hospital coding and specialty drug expenses.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/01/43041254/unitedhealth-ceo-highlights-hospitals-doctors-pharmas-role-in-soaring-health-care-costs" rel="noreferrer noopener">UnitedHealth CEO Highlights Hospitals, Doctors, Pharma&#8217;s Role In Soaring Health Care Costs</a>
The MLR is the percentage of insurance premium dollars spent on reimbursement for clinical services and activities to improve health care quality.
KeyBanc maintains the Overweight rating with a price forecast of $650.
Analyst Matthew Gillmor says key positives include favorable Medicare Advantage (MA) Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) performance, highlighting near-record retention rates and a strong mix of members, including dual-eligibles and returning customers.
Gillmor says this positive trend could boost margins since Medicare Advantage (MA) members in their second year or beyond are typically more profitable. In 2024, UnitedHealth faced challenges from higher member churn due to competitors offering enhanced supplemental benefits.
The analyst writes the trends support the view of an EPS growth acceleration for UnitedHealth, potentially aided by a better MA rate environment under the upcoming Trump administration.
KeyBanc remains confident EPS growth can return to the 13-16% range by 2026, supporting a valuation recovery to historical multiples around 19x earnings versus 17x currently.
Meanwhile, Cantor Fitzgerald shared a cautiously optimistic view on UnitedHealth Group's 2025 outlook following discussions with management, describing the company's guidance as conservatively positioned.
Analyst Sarah James highlighted the firm&#8217;s confidence, stating, &#8220;We continue to view UNH as our Top Pick for 2025, and the current 15.3x multiple as undervaluing the company&#8217;s strong business positioning and diversified portfolio.&#8221;
Price Action: UNH stock is up 1.12% at $516.30 at last check Friday.
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Photo: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

UnitedHealth's Strong Member Loyalty Powers Analyst Growth Forecasts

Barclays analyst Andrew Mok maintains UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $655 to $642.

Barclays Maintains Overweight on UnitedHealth Group, Lowers Price Target to $642

Live On CNBC, Kevin Simpson Announces Covered Call Strategy On United Health Group

UnitedHealth Group's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) short percent of float has risen 27.14% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 8.18 million shares sold short, which is 0.89% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.21 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>UnitedHealth Group Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737128717_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for UnitedHealth Group has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing UnitedHealth Group's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, UnitedHealth Group's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 5.62%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

(UNH) - Analyzing UnitedHealth Group's Short Interest

Keybanc analyst Steve Barger reiterates UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) with a Overweight and maintains $650 price target.

Reiteration

Keybanc Reiterates Overweight on UnitedHealth Group, Maintains $650 Price Target

Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Sarah James reiterates UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) with a Overweight and maintains $700 price target.

Cantor Fitzgerald Reiterates Overweight on UnitedHealth Group, Maintains $700 Price Target

U.S. stock markets experienced a downturn on Thursday, with the Nasdaq Composite shedding over 170 points and ending the day at 19,338.29. The Dow decreased by almost 0.2% to 43,153.13, while the S&amp;P 500 fell 0.2% to 5,937.34.
These are the top stocks that gained the attention of retail traders and investors throughout the day:
Apple Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>)
Apple&#8217;s shares fell 4.04%, closing at $228.26, with an intraday high of $238.01 and a low of $228.03. The stock is trading between its 52-week high of $260.09 and low of $164.08. The decline follows a report indicating a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/43042851/apple-shares-dip-as-iphone-sales-in-china-decline-sharply-in-2024-whats-going-on">significant drop</a> in iPhone sales in China, with Canalys data showing a 17% annual decrease in shipments, marking Apple&#8217;s largest sales drop in the region.
Rivian Automotive Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIVN#NASDAQ">RIVN</a>)
Rivian&#8217;s stock rose 3.59% to close at $14.44, reaching an intraday high of $14.66 and a low of $13.95. The stock&#8217;s 52-week range is $18.86 to $8.26. The increase came after Rivian finalized a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/01/43045600/rivian-stock-is-racing-higher-after-hours">loan agreement</a>&nbsp;with the U.S. Department of Energy for up to $6.6 billion, aimed at supporting the construction of a new manufacturing facility in Georgia.
UnitedHealth Group, Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>)
UnitedHealth shares dropped 6.04%, closing at $510.59, with a high of $539.84 and a low of $510. The stock&#8217;s 52-week high is $630.73, and the low is $436.38. The decline follows mixed financial results, with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/01/43041254/unitedhealth-ceo-highlights-hospitals-doctors-pharmas-role-in-soaring-health-care-costs">earnings exceeding estimates</a>&nbsp;but revenue falling short by nearly $1 billion, amid challenges like Medicare funding reductions.
Biomerica, Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMRA#NASDAQ">BMRA</a>)
Biomerica&#8217;s stock surged 101.71% to $0.71, with an intraday high of $1.27 and a low of $0.56. The stock&#8217;s 52-week range is $1.35 to $0.24. The dramatic rise follows the approval of its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/01/43033027/biomerica-stock-trades-200-higher-after-prostate-screening-test-receives-approval">Fortel Prostate Specific Antigen Screening Test</a>&nbsp;by the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Health and Prevention.
Tesla Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)
Tesla&#8217;s shares decreased by 3.36%, closing at $413.82, with a high of $424 and a low of $409.13. The stock trades between a 52-week high of $488.54 and a low of $138.8. The decline comes as an analyst from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43036902/tesla-stock-valuation-analyst-flags-long-term-growth-opportunities-robotaxis-fsd">Goldman Sachs</a> highlighted Tesla&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43036902/tesla-stock-valuation-analyst-flags-long-term-growth-opportunities-robotaxis-fsd">monetization opportunities</a> with robotaxis and full self-driving technology, maintaining a Neutral rating.
Prepare for the day&#8217;s trading&nbsp;<a href="https://editorial.benzinga.com/wp-admin/Premarket%20Movers%20&amp;%20News">with top premarket movers and news</a>&nbsp;by Benzinga.

Apple, Rivian, Unitedhealth, Biomerica, Tesla: Why These 5 Stocks Are On Investors' Radars Today

UnitedHealth Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) reported its financial results on Thursday after a tumultuous fourth quarter that included the murder of UnitedHealthcare division CEO Brian Thompson and broad public outrage over the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/24/12/42744629/unitedhealth-group-ceo-reportedly-says-company-will-hit-financial-records-execs-murder-public-outcry-are-backdrop-for-q4-earnings">nation's health care system.&nbsp;</a>
What To Know: UnitedHealth posted mixed<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/01/43025159/unitedhealth-q4-earnings-revenue-falls-short-medical-ratio-rises-to-85-5-stock-falls"> financial results</a> for the quarter, beating earnings estimates, but missing on revenue by nearly $1 billion. The insurer also reported that its full-year medical care ratio rose to 85.5%, up from 83.2% in 2023,  due to CMS&#8217;s Medicare funding reductions, the timing of Medicaid redeterminations and the cyberattack on UnitedHealth&#8217;s subsidiary Change Healthcare. 
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Q4 Earnings Call: UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty held a conference call with analysts following the earnings release and opened the call with a tribute to Thompson.&nbsp;
"He would dive in with passion and caring to find solutions to improve experiences, whether for an individual consumer, an employer or a public health agency," Witty said of Thompson, as <a href="https://insurancenewsnet.com/innarticle/unitedhealth-reports-29m-revenue-bump-in-2024-ceo-rips-costly-system">reported by</a> Insurance NewsNet.&nbsp;
The UnitedHealth CEO addressed the public outcry over the high costs of health care and health insurance in the U.S. and pointed to hospitals, doctors and pharmaceutical companies as the cause. 
"Health care costs more in the U.S. because the price of a single procedure, visit or prescription, is higher here than it is in other countries," Witty said. 
"There are participants in the system who benefit from these high prices. Lower-cost, equivalent quality sites of service, for example, can be good for consumers and patients, but threaten revenue streams for organizations that depend on charging more for care," he added.&nbsp;
Witty also staunchly defended pharmacy benefit managers, which have come under scrutiny and criticism as being at least <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/43010888/ftc-says-unitedhealth-cvs-cigna-make-billions-via-pbms-on-specialty-drugs">partially responsible</a> for high prescription prices. 
"PBMs are really the only effective mechanism across the system which really holds the pharmaceutical company to account once it chooses to set its price," Witty said. "The PBM is there to try and hold that to account and negotiate on behalf of employers, unions, states and others, to try and bring down those prices."&nbsp;
The CEO also announced that UnitedHealth's OptumRx PBM will return 100% of rebates from drug companies back to its customers by 2028, up from 98% currently. 
UNH Price Action: According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw">Benzinga Pro</a>, UnitedHealth shares finished 6.04% lower at $510.59 on Thursday.
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Photo: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock.com

UnitedHealth CEO Highlights Hospitals, Doctors, Pharma's Role In Soaring Health Care Costs

Shares of insurance and pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) companies such as Centene Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNC#NYSE">CNC</a>), Elevance Health Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ELV#NYSE">ELV</a>), Humana Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUM#NYSE">HUM</a>) and CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) are trading lower Thursday, likely in reaction to UnitedHealth Group Inc.&#8216;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) disappointing fourth-quarter 2024 revenue results.
What To Know: UnitedHealth, the largest health insurer in the U.S., reported a revenue increase of 6.8% year-over-year to $100.8 billion, falling short of the consensus estimate of $101.76 billion.
UnitedHealth&#8217;s stock declined sharply, falling 6.04% to $510.59, as the earnings report highlighted concerns over its medical care ratio, which rose to 85.5% from 83.2% in 2023. This increase was attributed to factors such as Medicare funding reductions, member mix changes and the timing of Medicaid redeterminations.
UnitedHealth also reaffirmed its 2025 guidance, projecting $450 billion to $455 billion in revenue and adjusted EPS of $29.50 to $30.00.
The broader sector saw a ripple effect. The declines potentially reflect investor apprehension about sector-wide pressures, including reimbursement challenges and operational costs, spotlighted by UnitedHealth&#8217;s earnings report.
Price Actions: Closing Thursday, Centene stock dropped 0.44% to $62.87, CVS Health slid 0.15% to $51.96, Elevance Health fell 1.03% to $385.26 and Humana dropped 1.62% to $274.97 according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?new_user=False&amp;backend=google-oauth2">Benzinga Pro.</a>
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Photo: Shutterstock.

streetTRACKS Dow Jones U.S. Large Cap Value Index Fund

Insurance, Pharmacy Benefit Manager Company Stocks Drop Following UnitedHealth's Q4 Revenue Miss: What's Going On?

Wall Street paused for a breather on Thursday, following Wednesday's big rally sparked by a softer-than-predicted December inflation report that fueled speculation on the Federal Reserve delivering interest rate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/43003047/stocks-rise-on-core-inflation-slowdown-banks-rally-after-strong-q4-earnings-treasury-yields-plummet">cuts during the year. </a>
By midday, stocks were little changed as attention shifted to the next major event: Donald Trump's inauguration as 47th U.S. president on Monday.
On the data front, December retail sales rose 0.4% from the previous month, a slower pace than November's 0.8% increase and below expectations of 0.6%. Jobless claims climbed by 16,000 to 217,000, slightly higher than <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/43027744/retail-sales-slow-jobless-claims-rise-is-us-consumer-loosing-steam">the projected 210,000. </a>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43020430/cathie-wood-sounds-alarm-over-inflation-pressures-and-consumer-woes-peter-schiff-flags-oil-spike-what-economists-are-saying">Cathie Wood Says Inflation Worries Dampen Expectations, Schiff Singles Out Wall Street For Swallowing Narrative Even As Prices Soar</a>
The weaker data sent Treasury yields lower, with the 10-year yield slipping four basis points to 4.61%, extending the previous day's 14-basis-point decline.
Falling yields helped gold climb 0.9% to $2,970 per ounce, reaching a two-month high as investors moved toward safe-haven assets. 
Semiconductor stocks stood out the best-performing industry, with the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NASDAQ">SOXX</a>) gaining 1.8%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) jumped more than 5% after delivering strong quarterly earnings, lifting the broader chip industry. Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>) and ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASML#NASDAQ">ASML</a>) advanced 7% and 6%, respectively.
Oil prices pulled back 2.6%, giving up part of Wednesday's 4% gain. Traders speculated that Trump's policies could ease sanctions on Russian energy exports as part of a broader effort to negotiate peace in Ukraine. 
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) edged down 1% to $99,000, following a slight pullback across cryptocurrency markets.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day %chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,958.43</td>
<td>0.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>43,255.53</td>
<td>0.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,264.04</td>
<td>0.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>21,239.38</td>
<td>0.0%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated 12:40 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent011525&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) remained unchanged at $593.10.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;flattened at $432.18.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) was unchanged at $516.54.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) inched 0.1% to $224.31.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLU#NYSE">XLU</a>) outperformed, up 2.1%; the&nbsp;Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) lagged, down 0.5%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) fell 2% following quarterly earnings. Peer Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) rose 2.7%.</li>
<li>Other stocks reacting to earnings were UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>), down 4.7%, Infosys Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INFY#NYSE">INFY</a>), down 5.2%, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PNC#NYSE">PNC</a>), down 2%, U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USB#NYSE">USB</a>), down 5.3%, M&amp;T Bank Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTB#NYSE">MTB</a>), down 2.8%, First Horizon Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FHN#NYSE">FHN</a>). </li>
<li>Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) fell by 3.6% after the EV giant announced reduced selling prices on its Cybertruck, in a strategy to revive demand. </li>
<li>Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) dropped 3% after the European Commission's competition chief confirmed that the investigation into the company under the Digital Markets Act will move forward as scheduled, with enforcement anticipated by March 2024.</li>
</ul>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/travel/25/01/43036258/polar-vortex-brings-winters-coldest-air-for-trumps-inauguration-day-what-it-means-for-utilities-retailers-energy-stocks">Polar Vortex Brings Winter&#8217;s Coldest Air For Trump&#8217;s Inauguration Day: What It Means For Utilities, Retailers, Energy Stocks</a></li>
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Press Releases

UnitedHealth Group Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results

UnitedHealth Group Board Authorizes Payment of Quarterly Dividend

UnitedHealth Group to Host 2024 Investor Conference

UnitedHealth Group Updates Business Outlook Ahead of Investor Conference

UnitedHealth Group Statement on Today's Events

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Media Advisory: UnitedHealth Group Responds to Misinformation

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