Últimas noticias sobre UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) Bolsa

UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INC

UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group is one of the largest private health insurers and provides medical benefits to about 51 million members globally, including 1 million outside the US as of December 2024. As a leader in employer-sponsored, self-directed, and government-backed insurance plans, UnitedHealth has obtained massive scale in medical insurance. Along with its insurance assets, UnitedHealth's Optum franchises help create a healthcare services colossus that spans everything from pharmaceutical benefits to providing outpatient care and analytics to both affiliated and third-party customers.

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Across the recent three months, 35 analysts have shared their insights on UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>), expressing a variety of opinions spanning from bullish to bearish.
The table below provides a snapshot of their recent ratings, showcasing how sentiments have evolved 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">6</td>
<td align="right">24</td>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</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">2</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">4</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">18</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
In the assessment of 12-month price targets, analysts unveil insights for UnitedHealth Group, presenting an average target of $425.03, a high estimate of $600.00, and a low estimate of $270.00. This current average has decreased by 21.52% from the previous average price target of $541.57. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1752703248_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Deciphering Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Analysis</h2>
In examining recent analyst actions, we gain insights into how financial experts perceive UnitedHealth Group. The following summary 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>David Macdonald</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$345.00</td>
<td>$360.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Mok</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$337.00</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kevin Caliendo</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$385.00</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lisa Gill</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$418.00</td>
<td>$405.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Ha</td>
<td>Baird</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$312.00</td>
<td>$356.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jessica Tassan</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$353.00</td>
<td>$552.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Mok</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
<td>$362.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matthew Gillmor</td>
<td>Keybanc</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
<td>$450.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sidharth Sahoo</td>
<td>HSBC</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Reduce</td>
<td>$270.00</td>
<td>$490.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Justin Lake</td>
<td>Wolfe Research</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$390.00</td>
<td>$501.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ryan Langston</td>
<td>TD Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$308.00</td>
<td>$520.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Macdonald</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$360.00</td>
<td>$580.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ann Hynes</td>
<td>Mizuho</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
<td>$515.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ben Hendrix</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$355.00</td>
<td>$525.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Mok</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$362.00</td>
<td>$513.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lisa Gill</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$405.00</td>
<td>$525.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>George Hill</td>
<td>Deutsche Bank</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$362.00</td>
<td>$521.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Wiederhorn</td>
<td>Oppenheimer</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
<td>$600.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Stephen Baxter</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$351.00</td>
<td>$677.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ricky Goldwasser</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$374.00</td>
<td>$563.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kevin Fischbeck</td>
<td>B of A Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
<td>$560.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Ha</td>
<td>Baird</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$356.00</td>
<td>$510.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matthew Gillmor</td>
<td>Keybanc</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$450.00</td>
<td>$575.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jessica Tassan</td>
<td>Piper Sandler</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$552.00</td>
<td>$552.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Ha</td>
<td>Baird</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$510.00</td>
<td>$640.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Mok</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$513.00</td>
<td>$560.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lisa Gill</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$525.00</td>
<td>$652.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ben Hendrix</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$525.00</td>
<td>$655.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sidharth Sahoo</td>
<td>HSBC</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$490.00</td>
<td>$595.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ricky Goldwasser</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$563.00</td>
<td>$664.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Macdonald</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$580.00</td>
<td>$660.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Mok</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$560.00</td>
<td>$642.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tim Rezvan</td>
<td>Keybanc</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$575.00</td>
<td>$650.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>John Ransom</td>
<td>Raymond James</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Strong Buy</td>
<td>$540.00</td>
<td>$635.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Michael Wiederhorn</td>
<td>Oppenheimer</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$600.00</td>
<td>$640.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts adapt their recommendations to changing market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their response to recent developments related to UnitedHealth Group. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analysts assign qualitative assessments to stocks, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey the analysts' expectations for the relative performance of UnitedHealth Group compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts provide insights into price targets, offering estimates for the future value of UnitedHealth Group's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Considering these analyst evaluations in conjunction with other financial indicators can offer a comprehensive understanding of UnitedHealth Group's market position. Stay informed and make well-informed decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/UNH/analyst-ratings?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Stay up to date on UnitedHealth Group analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Discovering UnitedHealth Group: A Closer Look</h2>
UnitedHealth Group is one of the largest private health insurers and provides medical benefits to about 51 million members globally, including 1 million outside the US as of December 2024. As a leader in employer-sponsored, self-directed, and government-backed insurance plans, UnitedHealth has obtained massive scale in medical insurance. Along with its insurance assets, UnitedHealth's Optum franchises help create a healthcare services colossus that spans everything from pharmaceutical benefits to providing outpatient care and analytics to both affiliated and third-party customers.
<h3>UnitedHealth Group: A Financial Overview</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: The company's market capitalization surpasses industry averages, showcasing a dominant size relative to peers and suggesting a strong market position.
Revenue Growth: UnitedHealth Group displayed positive results in 3M. As of 31 March, 2025, the company achieved a solid revenue growth rate of approximately 9.8%. This indicates a notable increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to competitors, the company encountered difficulties, with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Health Care sector.
Net Margin: UnitedHealth Group's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional net margin, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable net margin of 5.74%, the company showcases strong profitability and effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): UnitedHealth Group's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional ROE, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable ROE of 6.7%, the company showcases efficient use of equity capital and strong financial health.
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 is below the industry average at 0.86, reflecting a lower dependency on debt financing and a more conservative financial approach.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: Simplified</h2>
Analyst ratings serve as essential indicators of stock performance, provided by experts in banking and financial systems. These specialists diligently analyze company financial statements, participate in conference calls, and engage with insiders to generate quarterly ratings for individual stocks.
Some analysts publish their predictions for metrics such as growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide additional guidance with their ratings. When using analyst ratings, it is important to keep in mind that stock and sector analysts are also human and are only offering their opinions to investors.
If you want to keep track of which analysts are outperforming others, you can view updated analyst ratings along withanalyst success scores in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.
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This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Analyst Ratings

Analyst Expectations For UnitedHealth Group's Future

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>WAY</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$321.0K</td>
<td>257</td>
<td>3.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JNJ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$157.50</td>
<td>$36.0K</td>
<td>5.3K</td>
<td>2.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TEM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/25/25</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$25.0K</td>
<td>746</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PGEN</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/17/25</td>
<td>$1.50</td>
<td>$35.0K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SMLR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$149.9K</td>
<td>270</td>
<td>864</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MRK</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/01/25</td>
<td>$83.00</td>
<td>$25.0K</td>
<td>182</td>
<td>817</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JAZZ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/17/25</td>
<td>$110.00</td>
<td>$165.3K</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>205</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SMMT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$10.00</td>
<td>$36.0K</td>
<td>208</td>
<td>177</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HROW</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$28.00</td>
<td>$62.5K</td>
<td>114</td>
<td>100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UNH</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$260.00</td>
<td>$37.5K</td>
<td>2.7K</td>
<td>62</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• For WAY (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WAY#NASDAQ">WAY</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 30 day(s) on August 15, 2025. This event was a transfer of 2293 contract(s) at a $40.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $321.0K, with a price of $140.0 per contract. There were 257 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3002 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding JNJ (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 2 day(s) on July 18, 2025. Parties traded 50 contract(s) at a $157.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $36.0K, with a price of $720.0 per contract. There were 5363 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2820 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding TEM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEM#NASDAQ">TEM</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 9 day(s) on July 25, 2025. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $60.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.0K, with a price of $251.0 per contract. There were 746 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1703 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding PGEN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PGEN#NASDAQ">PGEN</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 93 day(s) on October 17, 2025. Parties traded 1000 contract(s) at a $1.50 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 32 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $35.0K, with a price of $35.0 per contract. There were 1470 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1020 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SMLR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMLR#NASDAQ">SMLR</a>), we observe a call option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 156 day(s) on December 19, 2025. Parties traded 147 contract(s) at a $45.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $149.9K, with a price of $1020.0 per contract. There were 270 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 864 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding MRK (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 16 day(s) on August 1, 2025. Parties traded 99 contract(s) at a $83.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.0K, with a price of $253.0 per contract. There were 182 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 817 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding JAZZ (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JAZZ#NASDAQ">JAZZ</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 93 day(s) on October 17, 2025. Parties traded 190 contract(s) at a $110.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 11 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $165.3K, with a price of $870.0 per contract. There were 20 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 205 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For SMMT (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMMT#NASDAQ">SMMT</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 184 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 20 contract(s) at a $10.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $36.0K, with a price of $1800.0 per contract. There were 208 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 177 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For HROW (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HROW#NASDAQ">HROW</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 2 day(s) on July 18, 2025. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $28.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $62.5K, with a price of $625.0 per contract. There were 114 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 100 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 put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 184 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 20 contract(s) at a $260.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $37.5K, with a price of $1875.0 per contract. There were 2768 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 62 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

HROW

JAZZ

PGEN

SMLR

SMMT

10 Health Care Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

For approximately 15 years, or 60 quarters, UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) has consistently reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings.
However, in the <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" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fourth quarter of 2024</a>, the insurance giant reported mixed earnings, and in the first quarter of 2025, earnings fell short of expectations. UnitedHealth blamed rising medical costs.
According to a Bloomberg report, the company extended its 15-year streak of beating Wall Street earnings expectations in 2024, but only with the help of asset sales that analysts later described as unusual and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care" rel="noreferrer noopener">potentially misleading</a>.
The healthcare giant sold stakes in business units to private equity firms Warburg Pincus and KKR &amp; Co. Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KKR#NYSE">KKR</a>) late last year, quietly generating $3.3 billion in profit that helped bolster fourth-quarter earnings.
These transactions, many finalized just before the year-end and kept private even after closing, raised concerns among observers who viewed them as a strategic move to meet earnings targets.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/07/46326465/unitedhealth-slammed-with-another-lawsuit-over-119-billion-stock-plunge" rel="noreferrer noopener">UnitedHealth Slammed With Another Lawsuit Over $119 Billion Stock Plunge</a>
Some deals included terms requiring UnitedHealth to repurchase the stakes later at a higher price, suggesting a temporary earnings boost rather than a long-term gain.
The report on Tuesday <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-07-15/how-unitedhealth-quietly-boosted-earnings-with-asset-sales" rel="noreferrer noopener">added</a> that UnitedHealth reported the profits from these sales as part of its operating income and adjusted earnings per share—two key financial metrics—while excluding a $7.1 billion loss from its Brazil business.
The company stated that the Brazil exit was a rare event tied to foreign currency fluctuations, justifying its exclusion under U.S. accounting rules. Critics, however, argue that the selective inclusion and exclusion of such items skews the true picture of the company's performance.
Despite these concerns, UnitedHealth defended its accounting choices, calling them part of routine "portfolio refinement."
UnitedHealth's performance stumbled in early 2025 amid rising Medicare Advantage costs.
The company, which reported underwhelming <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/04/44860240/unitedhealth-slashes-2025-outlook-on-medicare-funding-reductions-stock-crashes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">first-quarter 2025</a> earnings, suspended its 2025 outlook in May, citing that care activity <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45373368/unitedhealth-stock-plunges-names-new-ceo-suspends-2025-guidance" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">continued to accelerate</a>.
The timing of UnitedHealth&#8217;s earnings is important, especially in light of Centene Corp's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNC#NYSE">CNC</a>) withdrawal of its 2025 GAAP and adjusted diluted EPS guidance, which stems from its initial review of 2025 industry data from Wakely, an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46222916/centenes-guidance-withdrawal-spooks-sector-oscar-health-stock-falls" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">independent actuarial firm</a>.
The company will release its second quarter 2025 financial <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/07/46396470/elevance-steps-in-as-unitedhealth-delays-will-it-set-the-tone-for-insurers" rel="noreferrer noopener">results on July 29</a>. Analysts estimate adjusted earnings of $4.95 per share on sales of $111.69 billion, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/feature/newsfeed" rel="noreferrer noopener">as per data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Price Action: UNH stock is up 0.34% at $292.70 at the last check on Wednesday.
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Photo: Shutterstock

Earnings

Health Care

UnitedHealth's $3.3 Billion Asset Sales Helped Sustain 15-Year Earnings Streak Amid Pressure

Truist Securities analyst David Macdonald maintains UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $360 to $345.

Price Target

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on UnitedHealth Group, Lowers Price Target to $345

<ul>
<li>ASML</li>
<li>NVDA</li>
<li>TSLA</li>
<li>AMD</li>
<li>UNH</li>
<li>GLD</li>
<li>BULL</li>
<li>AAPL</li>
<li>RKLB</li>
<li>HOOD</li>
</ul>
Data from <a href="https://swaggystocks.com/dashboard/wallstreetbets/ticker-sentiment">https://swaggystocks.com/dashboard/wallstreetbets/ticker-sentiment</a>
&nbsp;

Trading Ideas

ASML

BULL

HOOD

RKLB

TSLA

Top 10 Trending Stocks On WallStreetBets As Of July 16, 2025 (Via Swaggy Stocks)

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 will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Health Care sector: 
<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>UNH</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$270.00</td>
<td>$663.7K</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
<td>3.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>EW</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$72.50</td>
<td>$44.4K</td>
<td>6.5K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JANX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$22.50</td>
<td>$89.6K</td>
<td>288</td>
<td>427</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LLY</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/25/25</td>
<td>$800.00</td>
<td>$45.5K</td>
<td>194</td>
<td>213</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TEVA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$12.00</td>
<td>$56.2K</td>
<td>5.4K</td>
<td>130</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NVO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/18/26</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$128.7K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
<td>91</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TEM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>08/29/25</td>
<td>$59.00</td>
<td>$28.0K</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>56</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BBIO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$28.1K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
<td>42</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TMO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$340.00</td>
<td>$59.2K</td>
<td>170</td>
<td>31</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HCA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$360.00</td>
<td>$25.0K</td>
<td>159</td>
<td>23</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• For UNH (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 185 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 299 contract(s) at a $270.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 7 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $663.7K, with a price of $2220.0 per contract. There were 1803 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 3308 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding EW (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EW#NYSE">EW</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 31 day(s) on August 15, 2025. Parties traded 67 contract(s) at a $72.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $44.4K, with a price of $664.0 per contract. There were 6508 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2208 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding JANX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JANX#NASDAQ">JANX</a>), we observe a put option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 31 day(s) on August 15, 2025. Parties traded 427 contract(s) at a $22.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $89.6K, with a price of $210.0 per contract. There were 288 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 427 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding LLY (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 10 day(s) on July 25, 2025. Parties traded 50 contract(s) at a $800.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $45.5K, with a price of $910.0 per contract. There were 194 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 213 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding TEVA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEVA#NYSE">TEVA</a>), we observe a call option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 66 day(s) on September 19, 2025. Parties traded 130 contract(s) at a $12.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $56.2K, with a price of $433.0 per contract. There were 5421 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 130 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding NVO (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 338 day(s) on June 18, 2026. Parties traded 132 contract(s) at a $70.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $128.7K, with a price of $975.0 per contract. There were 1300 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 91 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For TEM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEM#NASDAQ">TEM</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 45 day(s) on August 29, 2025. This event was a transfer of 50 contract(s) at a $59.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.0K, with a price of $560.0 per contract. There were 2 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 56 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BBIO (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BBIO#NASDAQ">BBIO</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be neutral, expiring in 31 day(s) on August 15, 2025. This event was a transfer of 35 contract(s) at a $40.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.1K, with a price of $805.0 per contract. There were 1699 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 42 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 put option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 549 day(s) on January 15, 2027. Parties traded 25 contract(s) at a $340.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $59.2K, with a price of $2370.0 per contract. There were 170 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 31 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding HCA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HCA#NYSE">HCA</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 66 day(s) on September 19, 2025. Parties traded 18 contract(s) at a $360.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.0K, with a price of $1390.0 per contract. There were 159 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 23 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.

BBIO

JANX

TEVA

Health insurer Elevance Health Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ELV#NYSE">ELV</a>) is scheduled to release its second quarter 2025 financial <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/07/b46233308/elevance-health-to-hold-conference-call-and-webcast-to-discuss-second-quarter-2025-results-on-july" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">results on July 17</a>.
Analysts estimate adjusted earnings of $9.197 per share on sales of $48.24 billion, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/feature/newsfeed" rel="noreferrer noopener">as per data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) has been the first major health insurer to report quarterly earnings for several quarters. However, this quarter, the insurance giant will release its second quarter 2025 financial <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/06/b45734284/unitedhealth-group-announces-earnings-release-date" rel="noreferrer noopener">results on July 29</a>.
As it&#8217;s the biggest player in the industry, Forbes writes that analysts and investors often use its results to gauge the sector&#8217;s overall health.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46280387/unitedhealth-centene-hit-hard-by-guidance-shock-trumps-medicaid-push" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UnitedHealth, Centene Hit Hard By Guidance Shock, Trump&#8217;s Medicaid Push</a>
All eyes will be on the sector after Centene Corp&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNC#NYSE">CNC</a>) withdrawal of its 2025 GAAP and adjusted diluted EPS guidance, which stems from its initial review of 2025 industry data from Wakely, an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46222916/centenes-guidance-withdrawal-spooks-sector-oscar-health-stock-falls" rel="noreferrer noopener">independent actuarial firm</a>.
While withdrawing its comprehensive EPS guidance, Centene has reaffirmed its&nbsp;fiscal year 2025 adjusted EPS&nbsp;to be greater than $7.25, aligning with the consensus of $7.23.
UnitedHealth suspended its 2025 outlook in May, citing that care activity <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45373368/unitedhealth-stock-plunges-names-new-ceo-suspends-2025-guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener">continued to accelerate</a>.
Earlier in July, managed healthcare service provider under the Medicaid and Medicare programs, Molina Healthcare, Inc.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MOH#NYSE">MOH</a>), issued preliminary second-quarter results and lowered its full-year 2025 earnings outlook, citing rising medical costs across its Medicaid, Medicare,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/guidance/25/07/46273556/molina-healthcare-says-higher-medical-cost-trends-bite-cuts-profit-guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener">and state marketplace businesses</a>.
The company expects Q2 adjusted earnings of approximately $5.50 per share—slightly below earlier forecasts—due to expected cost pressures that will persist into the second half of the year.
As a result, Molina cut its full-year 2025 adjusted EPS guidance to $21.50 -$22.50, down from at&nbsp;least $24.50&nbsp;previously. The new forecast reflects a consolidated pre-tax margin just under 4%, at the low end of the company&#8217;s long-term target.
Forbes <a target="_blank" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2025/07/14/eyes-on-elevance-health-not-unitedhealth-as-first-to-report-earnings/" rel="noreferrer noopener">adds</a> Centene&#8217;s announcement is just the latest in a series of updates from health insurers who, over the past two years, have had a hard time managing the costs of people enrolled in government-subsidized health plans.
Price Action: UNH stock is down 1.29% at $300.19 at the last check on Monday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46394267/why-is-workhorse-stock-tumbling-on-monday" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Workhorse Stock Tanks On Merger Talks With Private EV Maker</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Movers

General

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

Elevance Steps In As UnitedHealth Delays — Will It Set The Tone For Insurers?

UNH closes at the high of the day on down day for the broad market
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/11202812/Screenshot-2025-07-11-at-4.24.24%E2%80%AFPM-922x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-15707" /></figure>
United Health Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) today experienced a Power Inflow, a significant event for those who follow where smart money goes and value order flow analytics in their trading decisions. 
Today, at 10:28 AM on July 11th, a significant trading signal occurred for UnitedHealth Group Inc., (UNH) as it demonstrated a Power Inflow at a price of $299.78. This indicator is crucial for traders who want to know directionally where institutions and so-called "smart money" moves in the market. They see the value of utilizing order flow analytics to guide their trading decisions. The Power Inflow points to a possible uptrend in UNH's stock, marking a potential entry point for traders looking to capitalize on the expected upward movement. Traders with this signal closely watch for sustained momentum in UNH's stock price, interpreting this event as a bullish sign.
Signal description
Order flow analytics, aka transaction or market flow analysis, separate and study both the retail and institutional volume rate of orders (flow). It involves analyzing the flow of buy and sell orders, along with size, timing, and other associated characteristics and patterns, to gain insights and make more informed trading decisions. This particular indicator is interpreted as a bullish signal by active traders.&nbsp;
The Power Inflow occurs within the first two hours of the market open and generally signals the trend that helps gauge the stock's overall direction, powered by institutional activity in the stock, for the remainder of the day.&nbsp;
By incorporating order flow analytics into their trading strategies, market participants can better interpret market conditions, identify trading opportunities, and potentially improve their trading performance. But let's not forget that while watching smart money flow can provide valuable insights, it is crucial to incorporate effective risk management strategies to protect capital and mitigate potential losses. Employing a consistent and effective risk management plan helps traders navigate the uncertainties of the market in a more controlled and calculated manner, increasing the likelihood of long-term success
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for UNH,<a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174"> Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.&nbsp;
<a href="https://benzinga.com/apis?_gl=1&#x2A;1hlgn5i&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTY1NjE2NTYxMi4xNzE0NzQ4MTAy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDc0ODEwMi4xLjEuMTcxNDc0ODQyOC4wLjAuMA..">Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs</a> and include firms, like&nbsp; <a href="https://tradepulse.net/?utm_source=Benzinga&amp;utm_medium=Article&amp;utm_campaign=brand_awareness_July2025">https://tradepulse.net/?utm_source=Benzinga&amp;utm_medium=Article&amp;utm_campaign=brand_awareness_July2025</a>
After Market Close UPDATE:
The price at the time of the Power Inflow was $299.78. The returns on the High price ($304.10) and Close price ($304.10) after the Power Inflow are respectively 1.4% and 1.4%. The result underlines the importance of a trading plan that includes Profit Targets and Stop Losses that reflect your risk appetite.They were the same today but that is not always the case
Past performance is not indicative of future results

Technicals

Opinion

Signals

UnitedHealth Stock Rises 1.4% After Key Trading Signal

A Reddit user claims to have turned disaster into triumph after nearly blowing his mother&#8217;s $800,000 retirement account, before mounting a stellar recovery to a profit of $4 million in just 3 months, via aggressive options trading.
Check out the current price of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/UNH" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UNH stock here.</a>
What Happened: On Reddit&#8217;s /r/WallStreetBets community on Saturday, a user with the name Solid-Sock-1794 described his 18-month-long trading journey using his mother&#8217;s retirement, which he says, &#8220;she was more than ok with.&#8221;
During this period, he claims to have significantly outperformed the markets by trading options contracts on high-volatility stocks such as Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), and Hims &amp; Hers Health Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HIMS#NYSE">HIMS</a>). His strategy involved buying near or at-the-money call options with expirations two to five months down the line.
He says the expirations would ideally involve one earnings event in the window, while holding through the actual earnings days. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46384885/peter-schiff-gives-trumps-30-tariff-threat-on-mexico-eu-a-reality-check-america-relies-on-deficits-to-make-up-for-excess-debt-and-consumption">Peter Schiff Gives Trump&#8217;s 30% Tariff Threat On Mexico, EU A Reality Check: America Relies On Deficits To Make Up For Excess Debt And Consumption</a>
This strategy, however, failed to stand the test of volatility in April, during what he refers to as &#8220;Tariff BS,&#8221; following which the account plummeted to $800,000. Since then, the account has made a strong 575% recovery, with an ending balance of $5.4 million.
The user credits this recovery to opportunistic scalps during sharp pullbacks, citing the example of Alphabet&#8217;s shares, following Apple Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) Congressional Testimony that suggested <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45536887/this-is-the-first-time-in-two-decades-that-google-is-extremely-vulnerableperplexitys-ceo-breaks-down-search-giants-margin-trap">a decline in Google search</a> traffic on Safari for the very first time in history.
As of Friday, the user disclosed he's 85% in cash, with the remaining 15% allocated to QQQ or Nasdaq puts and UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) calls. 
Citing ongoing trade uncertainty involving the European Union and Canada, he summed up his outlook and strategy going forward with a signature WSB refrain: &#8220;TACO's gonna TACO.&#8221; 
Here, the user is referring to the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45665026/trump-always-chickens-out-president-confronted-with-taco-trade-thesis-by-reporteras-markets-bet-hell-blink-again">&#8220;Trump Always Chickens Out&#8221; trade</a>, where traders make bets as soon as President Donald Trump issues fresh tariff threats, knowing fully well that he won&#8217;t follow through with them, something that&#8217;s repeated several times in recent months.
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="940" height="1024" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/14044941/Screenshot-2025-07-14-at-2.19.27-PM-940x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-983545" style="width:610px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/14044941/Screenshot-2025-07-14-at-2.19.27-PM-940x1024.png 940w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/14044941/Screenshot-2025-07-14-at-2.19.27-PM-275x300.png 275w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/14044941/Screenshot-2025-07-14-at-2.19.27-PM-768x837.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/14044941/Screenshot-2025-07-14-at-2.19.27-PM-1410x1536.png 1410w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/14044941/Screenshot-2025-07-14-at-2.19.27-PM.png 1474w" sizes="(max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px" /></figure>
Why It Matters: Late last month, as the deadline for the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/25/06/46180782/trumps-tariff-clock-ticks-but-taco-traders-arent-losing-their-cool">90-day pause approached</a>, traders did not lose their cool, deciding to lean instead into the &#8220;TACO&#8221; pattern, betting that Trump would soften his stance before inflicting lasting market damage.
Last week, as Trump began issuing more tariff threats and letters to key trading partners, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/07/46325008/copper-hits-a-record-on-trumps-threat-more-investors-join-taco-trade-fed-minutes-ahead">investors continued to buy</a>, once again putting their faith in the fact that, once all is said and done, the tariffs will not be as harsh as they are set out to be. 
This user joins the ranks of another WallStreetBets user who <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45583283/hold-my-beer-wallstreetbets-redditor-says-he-dropped-100k-into-unitedhealth-after-selling-his-house-without-telling-his-wife-till-death-do-us-part">dropped $100,000</a> into UnitedHealth Group&#8217;s shares nearly two months ago. 
User Sensitive_Reveal_227 claimed to have acquired 303 shares in the health insurance provider after selling his house, and without informing his wife, in hopes of a recovery in the beaten-down stock, following the assassination of its former CEO, the abrupt exit of its new CEO, and speculations of a DOJ criminal investigation, which the company quickly denied.
The company&#8217;s shares have remained largely flat since then, with no recovery in sight, and still trading at over 50% below its all-time high in November 2024.
Price Action: Shares of UnitedHealth were up 1.53% on Friday, trading at $304.10, and are down 0.35% in after-hours trading. 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="142" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/14044253/Screenshot-2025-07-14-at-2.12.43-PM-1024x142.png" alt="" class="wp-image-983537" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/14044253/Screenshot-2025-07-14-at-2.12.43-PM-1024x142.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/14044253/Screenshot-2025-07-14-at-2.12.43-PM-300x42.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/14044253/Screenshot-2025-07-14-at-2.12.43-PM-768x107.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/14044253/Screenshot-2025-07-14-at-2.12.43-PM.png 1526w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
The insurer&#8217;s shares have a poor showing across the board in Benzinga&#8217;s Edge Stock Rankings, with an unfavorable price trend in the short, medium and long term. Click <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">here</a> for deeper insights into the stock.
Read More: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/topics/25/07/46352086/an-investor-wonders-why-trumps-tariffs-arent-shaking-the-markets-does-wall-street-simply-not-care-about-the-economy-anymore">An Investor Wonders Why Trump&#8217;s Tariffs Aren&#8217;t Shaking The Markets. &#8216;Does Wall Street Simply Not Care About The Economy Anymore?&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: khunkornStudio via Shutterstock

GOOG

Hims & Hers Health, Inc. Class A Common Stock

HIMS

WallStreetBets Trader Nuked Mom's $800K IRA, Then Flipped It Into $4 Million With Options In Just 3 Months: His Strategy? 'TACO's Gonna TACO'

Benzinga examined the prospects for<a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> many investors' favorite stocks</a> over the last week — here's a look at some of our top stories.
U.S. markets closed this week at record highs, driven by Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) surpassing a $4 trillion market cap — the first ever, marking a historic milestone — amid easing global tensions and broad AI enthusiasm. President Donald Trump's trade rhetoric intensified, with new 50% tariffs planned on copper and Brazilian goods, but markets remained resilient, betting on eventual policy moderation.
Key sectors like airlines and materials also saw gains, while Tesla (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) remained under pressure due to Elon Musk's political activities. Gold and the dollar steadied alongside Treasury yields.
Benzinga provides daily reports on the stocks most popular with investors. Here are a few of this past week's most bullish and bearish posts that are worth another look.

The Bulls
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46321541/nvidia-hits-4-trillion-market-cap-stock-surges-to-all-time-high">"Nvidia hits $4 trillion market cap, stock surges to all‑time high"</a>, by Henry Khederian, reports that Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ: NVDA) reached a record market valuation above $4 trillion — becoming the first U.S. company to do so — on strong investor momentum, driven by its dominant position in AI chipmaking.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46356963/drone-stocks-fly-as-defense-secretary-fast-tracks-drone-production-deployment">"Drone stocks fly as Defense Secretary fast-tracks drone production, deployment"</a>, by Adam Eckert, reports that AeroVironment Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVAV#NASDAQ">AVAV</a>), Kratos Defense &amp; Security Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KTOS#NASDAQ">KTOS</a>), Red Cat Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCAT#NASDAQ">RCAT</a>), Unusual Machines Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UMAC#NASDAQ">UMAC</a>), AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAVS#NASDAQ">UAVS</a>), and Ondas Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ONDS#NASDAQ">ONDS</a>) all rallied after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revoked procurement restrictions and empowered frontline units to fast‑track U.S.-made drone production and deployment.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/07/46324594/used%E2%80%91car-boom-prices-supercharging-carvana-autonation-stocks">"Used‑car boom prices supercharging Carvana, AutoNation stocks"</a>, by Adam Eckert, reports that soaring used‑car prices are lifting Carvana Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVNA#NYSE">CVNA</a>) and AutoNation Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AN#NYSE">AN</a>), as both retailers benefit from record-high margins and strong consumer demand in the resale vehicle market.
For additional bullish calls of the past week, check out the following:
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46328802/dell-hpe-named-top-ai-server-plays-as-analyst-cites-14b-backlog">Dell, HPE Named Top AI Server Plays As Analyst Cites $14 Billion Backlog</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46299701/ge-aerospace-climbs-46-in-2025-as-investors-eye-tariff-strategy-earnings">GE Aerospace Climbs 46% In 2025 As Investors Eye Tariff Strategy, Earnings</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46353542/palantir-next-oracle-trump-backed-ai-surge">Palantir Is The ‘Next Oracle' On Trump-Backed AI Surge: Analyst</a>

The Bears
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/downgrades/25/07/46308347/trumps-big-beautiful-bill-too-much-for-tesla-stock-direct-hit-to-profitability">"Trump's ‘Big Beautiful Bill' too much for Tesla stock? Direct hit to profitability"</a>, by Shanthi Rexaline, reports that Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) was downgraded by William Blair analyst Jed Dorsheimer, who warned Trump's new bill eliminates $7,500 EV tax credits and corporate average fuel economy fines — putting Tesla's $2.8 billion in annual regulatory credit revenue, 16% of gross profit, at risk.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46280387/unitedhealth-centene-hit-hard-by-guidance-shock-trumps-medicaid-push">"UnitedHealth, Centene hit hard by guidance shock, Trump's Medicaid push"</a>, by Vandana Singh, reports that UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) saw its market cap plunge nearly 41% in Q2 and Centene Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNC#NYSE">CNC</a>) shares crashed over 40% after Centene withdrew its 2025 guidance — moves driven by unexpectedly high medical costs and President Donald Trump's new legislation targeting Medicaid funding that threatens insurers' risk pools and reimbursement structures.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46348352/gorilla-technology-shares-plunge-after-nvidia-fueled-rally-reverses">"Gorilla Technology shares plunge after Nvidia‑fueled rally reverses"</a>, by Akanksha Bakshi, reports that Gorilla Technology Group Inc. (NASDAQ: GRRR) stock tumbled after a brief surge drove by its inclusion as an NVIDIA Solutions Partner on Nvidia's website—without any formal announcement—reversing the prior day's strong rally.
For more bearish takes, be sure to see these posts:
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46352461/core-scientific-downgraded-over-concerns-on-acquisition-deal">Core Scientific Downgraded Over Concerns On Acquisition Deal</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46374969/jpmorgan-just-hit-delete-on-tesla-and-rivian">JPMorgan Just Hit ‘Delete' On Tesla And Rivian</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/07/46326465/unitedhealth-slammed-with-another-lawsuit-over-119-billion-stock-plunge">UnitedHealth Slammed With Another Lawsuit Over $119 Billion Stock Plunge</a>

Keep up with all the latest breaking news and trading ideas by following <a href="https://twitter.com/Benzinga" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a><a href="http://twitter.com/Benzinga" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> on X</a>.
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

AVAV

Core Scientific, Inc. - Class A Common Stock

CORZ

CVNA

DELL

GRRR

KTOS

ONDS

PLTR

RCAT

RIVN

UAVS

UMAC

Benzinga Bulls And Bears: Nvidia, Tesla, Carvana — And Trump Amps Up Tariff Talk

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on UnitedHealth Group.
Looking at options history for UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) we detected 26 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 42% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 42% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 11 are puts, for a total amount of $1,086,247 and 15, calls, for a total amount of $889,168.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $210.0 to $540.0 for UnitedHealth Group over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for UnitedHealth Group options trades today is 2706.65 with a total volume of 1,527.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for UnitedHealth Group's big money trades within a strike price range of $210.0 to $540.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>UnitedHealth Group Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1752242459_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>UNH</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$33.7</td>
<td>$33.4</td>
<td>$33.4</td>
<td>$300.00</td>
<td>$668.0K</td>
<td>3.4K</td>
<td align="right">207</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UNH</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$61.0</td>
<td>$59.05</td>
<td>$59.56</td>
<td>$300.00</td>
<td>$119.0K</td>
<td>2.9K</td>
<td align="right">33</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UNH</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/17/26</td>
<td>$51.25</td>
<td>$48.55</td>
<td>$50.58</td>
<td>$300.00</td>
<td>$111.2K</td>
<td>497</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UNH</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$18.1</td>
<td>$17.8</td>
<td>$17.8</td>
<td>$300.00</td>
<td>$89.0K</td>
<td>2.9K</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UNH</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$26.8</td>
<td>$26.15</td>
<td>$26.51</td>
<td>$330.00</td>
<td>$84.8K</td>
<td>4.4K</td>
<td align="right">181</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About UnitedHealth Group</h3>
UnitedHealth Group is one of the largest private health insurers and provides medical benefits to about 51 million members globally, including 1 million outside the US as of December 2024. As a leader in employer-sponsored, self-directed, and government-backed insurance plans, UnitedHealth has obtained massive scale in medical insurance. Along with its insurance assets, UnitedHealth's Optum franchises help create a healthcare services colossus that spans everything from pharmaceutical benefits to providing outpatient care and analytics to both affiliated and third-party customers.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding UnitedHealth Group, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of UnitedHealth Group</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 880,105, the price of UNH is up 0.13% at $299.88. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 18 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On UnitedHealth Group</h3>
A total of 3 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $380.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Barclays continues to hold a Overweight rating for UnitedHealth Group, targeting a price of $337. 
&#x2A; An analyst from JP Morgan has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on UnitedHealth Group, which currently sits at a price target of $418. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from UBS keeps a Buy rating on UnitedHealth Group with a target price of $385. 
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest UnitedHealth Group options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Market Whales and Their Recent Bets on UNH Options

UnitedHealth Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) appointed a new head of its Medicaid division, a position that had been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/07/46326465/unitedhealth-slammed-with-another-lawsuit-over-119-billion-stock-plunge">unfilled since May. </a>
The Details: UnitedHealth appointed Mike Cotton on Wednesday as the new CEO of its Medicaid division, as confirmed to <a href="https://www.beckerspayer.com/executive-moves/unitedhealth-group-names-new-medicaid-ceo/">Becker's</a>. 
Bobby Hunter, who leads UnitedHealthcare's Medicare business, will now oversee both the Medicare and Medicaid segments.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/07/46326465/unitedhealth-slammed-with-another-lawsuit-over-119-billion-stock-plunge?utm_source=articleShare">UnitedHealth Slammed With Another Lawsuit Over $119 Billion Stock Plunge</a>
In May, Andrew Witty stepped down as CEO of UnitedHealth Group, with Stephen Hemsley returning to the top leadership role. Since Hemsley's return, the company has made several changes to the executive team at Optum, its health services arm.
According to the company, these leadership adjustments reflect the company's ongoing strategy to build an executive team with broad experience across its various businesses.&nbsp;
Cotton, who joined UnitedHealth Group in 2021, previously served as president and CEO of Select Health at Intermountain.
Why It Matters: At the company's annual shareholder meeting, Hemsley acknowledged UnitedHealth's recent struggles, apologized for its performance and emphasized the need to rethink internal processes.&nbsp;
He assured shareholders that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/06/45775858/unitedhealth-board-reelects-directors-hikes-dividend-as-ceo-pledges-review-of-medicare-practices">recent financial results</a> have been factored into the company's 2025 Medicare bids and stressed the importance of adopting a fresh perspective on issues that have drawn widespread criticism.&nbsp;
Under Witty, UnitedHealth expanded its dominance in Medicare Advantage, reportedly achieving profit margins on Medicare enrollees roughly double those of traditional Medicare insurers. This advantage was partly due to federal rules and higher government payments for patients with certain chronic conditions.&nbsp;
However, Medicare policy changes announced in 2023 are now reducing or eliminating many of these extra payments, which is expected to have a major financial impact—affecting nearly 900,000 patients, according to an internal analysis.
Despite these headwinds, UnitedHealth continued to pursue Medicare growth for 2025, even in higher-risk patient groups, while competitors pulled back after profit declines in 2024.&nbsp;
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46308025/get-ready-for-800-hours-of-blackouts-trumps-doe-warns?utm_source=articleShare">Get Ready For 800 Hours Of Blackouts, Trump&#8217;s DOE Warns</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Management

UnitedHealth Hits Reset: New Head Of Medicaid Appointed As CEO Reshapes Team

In a landscape where economic resilience is constantly tested, three key insights from CNBC's &#8220;Halftime Report Final Trades&#8221; offer a glimpse into the shifting dynamics of the industrial and healthcare sectors, as well as the promising <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/ecommerce">potential of e-commerce.</a>
On Wednesday&#8217;s <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2025/07/09/final-trades-wabtec-unitedhealth-and-doordash.html">program</a>, Jim Lebenthal at Cerity Partners said Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WAB#NYSE">WAB</a>) is a solid <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WAB/analyst-ratings">mid-cap industrial</a>.
Supporting his view, BofA Securities analyst Ken Hoexter maintained a Buy rating for Westinghouse Air Brake on Tuesday and raised the price target from $231 to $236.
Stephen Weiss, chief investment officer and managing partner of Short Hills Capital Partners, picked UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>), which fell on Wednesday, on the Wall Street Journal article.
UnitedHealth Group is facing renewed legal pressure as shareholders file additional lawsuits, many of which reference a federal investigation into the company&#8217;s Medicare billing practices, as reported by The Wall Street Journal in May.
Don't forget to check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
Joseph M. Terranova, senior managing director for Virtus Investment Partners, said DoorDash, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DASH#NASDAQ">DASH</a>) has very strong pricing power.
On the earnings front, DoorDash will release second-quarter financial results after the closing bell on Wednesday, Aug. 6. Analysts expect the company to report quarterly earnings at 43 cents per share, versus a year-ago loss of 38 cents per share.
Price Action:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies shares gained 0.6% to close at $213.05 on Wednesday.</li>
<li>UnitedHealth fell 1.6% to close at $302.91 during the session.</li>
<li>DoorDash shares gained 1.9% to close at $246.06 during the session.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/07/46316741/top-3-risk-off-stocks-that-may-rocket-higher-in-q3">Top 3 Risk Off Stocks That May Rocket Higher In Q3</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Long Ideas

Media

DASH

DoorDash, Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies And A Health Care Stock On CNBC's 'Final Trades'

<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-09/unitedhealth-names-new-medicaid-ceo-in-latest-executive-move?srnd=homepage-americas&amp;embedded-checkout=true" title="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-09/unitedhealth-names-new-medicaid-ceo-in-latest-executive-move?srnd=homepage-americas&amp;embedded-checkout=true">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-09/unitedhealth-names-new-medicaid-ceo-in-latest-executive-move?srnd=homepage-americas&amp;embedded-checkout=true</a>

'UnitedHealth Names New Medicaid CEO In Latest Executive Move' -Bloomberg

UnitedHealth Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) is under renewed legal pressure as shareholders file additional lawsuits, many of which reference a federal investigation into the company's Medicare billing practices reported by the Wall Street <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/07/46232120/congress-is-buying-into-unitedhealth-46-crash-what-do-they-know-that-wall-street-doesnt">Journal in May.</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Details of the Latest Lawsuit</h2>
Steve Silverman, a UnitedHealth shareholder since 2003, filed a derivative lawsuit last week in federal court in Minnesota. In a derivative suit, a shareholder brings claims on behalf of the company against its own leadership, alleging harm to the corporation itself.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46308025/get-ready-for-800-hours-of-blackouts-trumps-doe-warns?utm_source=articleShare">Get Ready For 800 Hours Of Blackouts, Trump&#8217;s DOE Warns</a>&nbsp;
Silverman's complaint accuses UnitedHealth's leadership, including CEO Stephen Hemsley, former CEO Andrew Witty and several board members, of:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Breaching their fiduciary duties</li>
<li>Engaging in insider trading</li>
<li>Unjust enrichment</li>
<li>Violating the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</li>
</ul>
The lawsuit references multiple media reports about UnitedHealth's billing practices, which culminated in the Wall Street Journal article that revealed the Department of Justice was preparing a criminal probe into the insurer's Medicare operations. 
"Despite repeated warnings, UnitedHealth's reliance on inflated coding practices continued through at least 2023 and apparently into 2024," Silverman's lawsuit claimed, according to Insurance Newsnet.&nbsp;
"These tactics yielded billions of dollars in excessive reimbursements, a sum so large that it vastly inflated the Company's financial results and stock price," the lawsuit alleges.
UnitedHealth has not commented on the lawsuit. In response to the Wall Street Journal's reporting, the company stated it had not been notified of any DOJ investigation and defended the integrity of its Medicare Advantage program.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Additional Shareholder Actions</h2>
Other investors have filed similar lawsuits:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Joseph Crognale filed a complaint on June 30, naming the same 14 defendants as Silverman.</li>
<li>Merry Kogut filed a derivative suit on June 14, alleging that UnitedHealth's leadership failed to disclose a Department of Labor investigation in late 2023. Kogut claims the company repurchased $7.3 billion in stock at inflated prices during this period, and that executives profited from share sales while the DOJ probe was still secret.</li>
</ul>
Kogut's lawsuit alleges that Hemsley made $211.5 million and Witty $11 million from stock sales before the DOJ investigation became public knowledge.
All three <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/05/45305392/unitedhealth-investors-claim-company-hid-profit-impact-of-ceos-murder">lawsuits center</a> on UnitedHealth's Medicare billing and reporting practices. Plaintiffs argue that while the company's Medicare business has been highly profitable, it has also attracted negative attention that has hurt its stock price.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">UNH in Turmoil</h2>
UnitedHealth is currently facing a series of challenges, including these lawsuits, a DOJ investigation, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/07/46280387/unitedhealth-centene-hit-hard-by-guidance-shock-trumps-medicaid-push">regulatory change</a>s from the Trump administration and recent leadership upheaval.&nbsp;
UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty resigned in May, and the company withdrew its previous earnings forecast less than a month after issuing it.&nbsp;
Additionally, the Wall Street Journal released<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/07/46316016/unitedhealth-whistleblowers-allege-medicare-misconduct"> a new report</a> on Wednesday, which claims that former UnitedHealth employees told DOJ investigators that the company encouraged the capture of certain lucrative diagnoses during patient assessments.
UnitedHealth Group is set to report its second-quarter earnings and updated guidance on July 29. 
UNH shares have fallen more than 40% year-to-date, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw">Benzinga Pro</a>, and were trading at $302.10 at the time of publication on Wednesday.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46284237/sofi-ready-to-capture-the-opportunity-as-trumps-big-beautiful-plan-restricts-federal-student-loans?utm_source=articleShare">SoFi Ready To &#8216;Capture The Opportunity&#8217; As Trump&#8217;s &#8216;Big, Beautiful&#8217; Plan Restricts Federal Student Loans</a></li>
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Photo: Shutterstock

UnitedHealth Slammed With Another Lawsuit Over $119 Billion Stock Plunge

CNBC Halftime Report Final Trades: DoorDash, Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies, UnitedHealth Group

<ul>
<li>TSLA</li>
<li>UNH</li>
<li>GOOGL</li>
<li>NVDA</li>
<li>GOOG</li>
<li>BULL</li>
<li>GLD</li>
<li>AMZN</li>
<li>INTC</li>
<li>HOOD</li>
</ul>
Data from <a href="https://swaggystocks.com/dashboard/wallstreetbets/ticker-sentiment">https://swaggystocks.com/dashboard/wallstreetbets/ticker-sentiment</a>
&nbsp;

INTC

Top 10 Trending Stocks On WallStreetBets As Of July 9, 2025 (Via Swaggy Stocks)

The U.S. Department of Justice&#8217;s (DOJ) criminal healthcare-fraud unit has intensified its investigation into UnitedHealth Group Inc&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) Medicare billing practices, focusing on how it leveraged doctors and nurses to boost government payments.
The probe began at least a year ago and is now drawing fresh scrutiny as former employees <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43879859/doj-investigates-unitedhealth-probe-accuses-of-inflating-medicare-diagnoses" rel="noreferrer noopener">speak with federal investigators</a>.
The Wall Street Journal <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/business/unitedhealth-doj-medicare-billing-investigation-8d56800d" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a> that former UnitedHealth employees told investigators that the company encouraged the capture of certain lucrative diagnoses during patient assessments.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/06/45796533/humana-backs-reforms-to-limit-medicare-advantage-billing-practices" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humana Backs Reforms To Limit Medicare Advantage Billing Practices</a>
These efforts included testing patients, implementing protocols to document medical conditions, and dispatching nurses to conduct in-home evaluations.
In May, UnitedHealth was reportedly investigated by the DOJ for possible Medicare fraud. The company then <a target="_blank" href="https://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/newsroom/2025/2025-05-14-response-may-14-wsj-article.html" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>, &#8220;We have not been notified by the Department of Justice of the supposed criminal investigation reported, without official attribution, in the&nbsp;Wall Street Journal today.&#8221;
&#8220;We stand by the integrity of our Medicare Advantage program,&#8221; the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/05/45443695/why-is-unitedhealth-stock-trading-lower-on-thursday" rel="noreferrer noopener">company statement continued</a>. One focal point of the investigation is UnitedHealth&#8217;s HouseCalls unit, which sends nurses to Medicare members&#8217; homes.
Nurses use software that prompts them to record potential diagnoses during these visits. Investigators questioned a former nurse practitioner from the unit.
They probed using specific tools, such as the QuantaFlo device, which helps detect peripheral artery disease, a diagnosis flagged in a Wall Street Journal analysis for its frequent use.
Investigators are also reviewing UnitedHealth&#8217;s internal software feature called the &#8220;diagnosis cart,&#8221; which displays possible conditions based on the nurse&#8217;s inputs. Among the diagnoses under scrutiny are peripheral artery disease and secondary hyperaldosteronism, both of which can lead to higher Medicare payments.
UnitedHealth has said that its healthcare professionals are expected to rely on their clinical judgment when assigning diagnoses.
However, the Wall Street Journal&#8217;s reporting highlighted that the company&#8217;s Medicare Advantage members received high-paying diagnoses more often than those enrolled in competing plans, potentially resulting in billions of dollars in extra taxpayer-funded payments.
Between 2019 and 2021, UnitedHealth received an average of $2,735 in additional payments per nurse home visit based on new diagnoses, roughly 50% more than the industry average.
In 2021 alone, the insurer collected $8.7 billion in payments for diagnoses that were not backed by treatment claims from doctors or hospitals, accounting for nearly half of such payments made that year.
The Journal also found that doctors employed by UnitedHealth&#8217;s medical practices assigned certain high-value diagnoses at abnormally high rates.
Stephen Hemsley, recently appointed CEO, is stepping forward to acknowledge the fallout and chart a new course, promising a comprehensive review of some of the company&#8217;s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/06/45775858/unitedhealth-board-reelects-directors-hikes-dividend-as-ceo-pledges-review-of-medicare-practices" rel="noreferrer noopener">most controversial practices</a>.
In July, the DOJ charged over 320 individuals, uncovering nearly $15 billion in fraudulent claims, marking a significant milestone in the fight <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/07/46195080/doj-dismantles-14-billion-healthcare-fraud-scheme-in-largest-ever-crackdown-impacting-over-1-million-americans" rel="noreferrer noopener">against healthcare fraud</a>.
The department revealed a staggering&nbsp;$14.6 billion in fraudulent claims. The operation, named &#8220;Operation Gold Rush,&#8221; also resulted in the seizure of assets worth over $245 million, including cash, luxury vehicles, and cryptocurrency.
Price Action: UNH stock is down 1.87% at $301.94 during the premarket session at last check Wednesday.
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Photo by Piotr Swat via Shutterstock

UnitedHealth Former Staff Reveal Dark Secrets Of Medicare Billing Practices

WIIM

UnitedHealth shares are trading lower after the Wall Street Journal reported DOJ prosecutors are questioning doctors about the company's Medicare billing practices.

<a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/unitedhealth-doj-medicare-billing-investigation-8d56800d" title="https://www.wsj.com/business/unitedhealth-doj-medicare-billing-investigation-8d56800d">https://www.wsj.com/business/unitedhealth-doj-medicare-billing-investigation-8d56800d</a>

The Wall Street Journal Reported, DoJ Prosecutors Question Doctors About UnitedHealth's Medicare Billing Practices

Press Releases

UNH INVESTOR ALERT: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC Announces that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated Investors with Substantial Losses Have Opportunity to Lead Class Action Lawsuit

INVESTOR ALERT: Pomerantz Law Firm Reminds Investors with Losses on their Investment in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated of Class Action Lawsuit and Upcoming Deadlines - UNH

UNITEDHEALTH ALERT: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. Announces that a Class Action Lawsuit Has Been Filed Against UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and Encourages Investors to Contact the Firm

UnitedHealth Group Recommends Shareholders Reject "Mini-Tender" Offer by Tutanota

AM Best Assigns Issue Credit Ratings to UnitedHealth Group Incorporated's New Senior Unsecured Notes

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated Investors: Please contact the Portnoy Law Firm to recover your losses. July 7, 2025 Deadline to file Lead Plaintiff Motion

Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. Reminds Investors That Class Action Lawsuits Have Been Filed Against UnitedHealth, Bitfarms, and Reddit and Encourages Investors to Contact the Firm

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated Investor Alert (NYSE: UNH): Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP Investigating Potential Shareholder Claims Against the Company's Officers and Directors Following DOJ Probe and for Possible False Statements

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