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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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Aquí tienes cinco acciones estadounidenses que podrían llamar la atención de los inversores este jueves: BAC, SNV, MS, TSM y UNH.

5 acciones en el foco este jueves: BAC, SNV, MS, TSM y UNH

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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>
Check Out: 
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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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Stocks Pause, Chipmakers Rise, Gold Hits 2-Month Highs: What's Driving Markets Thursday?

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on UnitedHealth Group. Our analysis of options history for UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) revealed 27 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 40% of traders were bullish, while 22% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 15 were puts, with a value of $769,655, and 12 were calls, valued at $738,696.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $310.0 and $575.0 for UnitedHealth Group, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for UnitedHealth Group's options for a given strike price.
Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of UnitedHealth Group's whale activity within a strike price range from $310.0 to $575.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>UnitedHealth Group Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737050459_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</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>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$122.0</td>
<td>$114.05</td>
<td>$117.25</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
<td>$199.3K</td>
<td>82</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UNH</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$62.8</td>
<td>$60.25</td>
<td>$61.68</td>
<td>$560.00</td>
<td>$123.3K</td>
<td>81</td>
<td align="right">20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UNH</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$3.5</td>
<td>$3.25</td>
<td>$3.25</td>
<td>$490.00</td>
<td>$97.5K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
<td align="right">914</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UNH</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$47.2</td>
<td>$43.65</td>
<td>$45.44</td>
<td>$480.00</td>
<td>$90.8K</td>
<td>398</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UNH</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$40.6</td>
<td>$37.85</td>
<td>$39.05</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
<td>$78.1K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td align="right">47</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About UnitedHealth Group</h3>
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>Where Is UnitedHealth Group Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 4,631,547, with UNH's price down by -4.61%, positioned at $518.37.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 0 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About UnitedHealth Group</h3>
Over the past month, 2 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $605.0.
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;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Piper Sandler has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on UnitedHealth Group, which currently sits at a price target of $600. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Truist Securities has decided to maintain their Buy rating on UnitedHealth Group, which currently sits at a price target of $610. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for UnitedHealth Group, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

UnitedHealth Group Options Trading: A Deep Dive into Market Sentiment

On Thursday, UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) reported the fourth-quarter 2024 earnings and reaffirmed 2025 guidance.
The company reported adjusted EPS of $6.81, up from $6.16 a year ago, beating the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus of $6.72</a>. Revenues increased 6.8% year over year to $100.8 billion, missing the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/01/b43022980/unitedhealth-group-reports-2024-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus of $101.76 billion</a>.
Fourth-quarter adjusted earnings from operations of $8.3 billion exclude the cyberattack direct response costs and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/previews/25/01/43014717/unitedhealth-group-q4-earnings-preview-first-report-since-insurance-ceos-murder" rel="noreferrer noopener">South American impacts</a>.
The full-year medical care ratio was 85.5% compared to 83.2% in 2023. The increase was primarily due to previously discussed items, including the revenue effects of CMS's Medicare funding reductions, member mix and timing of Medicaid redeterminations. A lower ratio typically indicates higher profitability.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/43010888/ftc-says-unitedhealth-cvs-cigna-make-billions-via-pbms-on-specialty-drugs" rel="noreferrer noopener">FTC Says UnitedHealth, CVS, Cigna Make Billions Via PBMs On Specialty Drugs</a>
"The people of UnitedHealth Group remain focused on making high-quality, affordable health care more available to more people while making the health system easier to navigate for patients and providers, positioning us well for growth in 2025," said UNH CEO Andrew Witty.
UnitedHealthcare reported revenue of $74.1 billion, up from $70.8 billion a year ago. The number of consumers served with domestic commercial benefits grew by 2.4 million in 2024.
The number of people served by the company's offerings for seniors and people with complex needs grew to 9.4 million.
People served by the company's state-based community offerings moderated as expected to 7.4 million due to the now concluded Medicaid eligibility redeterminations process, partially offset by new and expanded customer relationships.
Optum reported $65.1 billion in revenue, up from $59.5 billion a year ago.
Optum Health served 4.7 million people with value-based care and expects to grow to serve an additional 650,000 patients in 2025.
Guidance: UnitedHealth reaffirms its 2025 sales guidance of $450 billion—$455 billion, compared to a consensus of $448.13 billion.
The company expects 2025 adjusted EPS of $29.50-$30.00 versus the consensus of $29.83 and operating cash flow of $32 billion—$33 billion.
Price Action: UNH stock is down 3.02% at $527 during the premarket session on the last check Thursday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43023028/stellantis-projects-9-shipment-decline-for-q4-amid-us-inventory-cuts" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stellantis Projects 9% Shipment Decline For Q4 Amid US Inventory Cuts</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: JHVEPhoto via Shutterstock

Earnings

Guidance

Health Care

Movers

General

UnitedHealth Q4 Earnings: Revenue Falls Short, Medical Ratio Rises To 85.5%, Stock Falls

WIIM

UnitedHealth Group shares are trading lower following a Q4 revenue miss.

U.S. stock futures were mixed on Thursday following Wednesday&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43021827/dow-jumps-700-points-following-inflation-data-greed-index-remains-in-fear-zone">rally</a>. Futures of the S&amp;P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow Jones were higher, whereas the gauge of small-cap stocks Russell 2000 was trading lower in premarket trade.
Traders responded to better-than-expected inflation data on Wednesday as most stocks rallied. The headline Consumer Price Index rose 2.9% year-over-year in December, up from November's 2.7%, matching economist forecasts.
The 10-year Treasury note yielded 4.66%, while the two-year note yielded 4.28%. The CME Group&#8217;s FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool</a> indicated a 97.3% probability that the Federal Reserve will hold interest rates steady at its upcoming meeting on Jan. 31, 2025.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Futures</td>
<td>Change (+/-)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>0.48%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>0.33%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>0.06%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>-0.19%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) both experienced positive premarket trading on Thursday. SPY rose 0.35% to $594.86, and QQQ climbed 0.45% to $519.01, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Cues From The Last Session
U.S. stocks surged on Wednesday, experiencing their largest single-day <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43021827/dow-jumps-700-points-following-inflation-data-greed-index-remains-in-fear-zone">gain</a> since Nov. 6, 2024.
Inflation data released on Wednesday showed a slight uptick in consumer prices in December, matching economists&#8217; expectations. However, the monthly increase was the largest since March.
Several major banks, including JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>), and Citigroup Inc.(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>) reported strong fourth-quarter earnings, with Citigroup also announcing a significant share buyback program.
Most sectors within the S&amp;P 500 experienced gains, particularly consumer discretionary, communication services, and financial stocks. Conversely, consumer staples stocks bucked the trend and closed lower.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed with a substantial gain of around 703 points. The S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also recorded significant increases.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Index</td>
<td>Performance (+/-)</td>
<td>Value</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq Composite</td>
<td>2.45%</td>
<td>19,511.23</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>1.83%</td>
<td>5,949.91</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>1.65%</td>
<td>43,221.55</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>1.99%</td>
<td>2,263.29</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Insights From Analysts
After Wednesday&#8217;s rally, Charlie Bilello, the chief market strategist at Creative Planning said in an X post that about one-third of the S&amp;P 500&#8217;s composition was concentrated in the &#8216;Magnificent Seven&#8217; stocks. According to a chart shared by him the concentration in these stocks rose to 33.5% from 28% a year ago.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Over a third of the S&amp;P 500 is now concentrated in the &quot;Magnificent Seven&quot; stocks, up from a fifth of the index two years ago. Video: <a href="https://t.co/CRei7RqnLO">https://t.co/CRei7RqnLO</a> <a href="https://t.co/P69ATuGRHv">pic.twitter.com/P69ATuGRHv</a>
&mdash; Charlie Bilello (@charliebilello) <a href="https://twitter.com/charliebilello/status/1879733848822403087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Talking about inflation, Collin Martin, director, of fixed income strategy at the Schwab Center for Financial Research said, &#8220;CPI was a step in the right direction, but we&#8217;ll need to see more reports like this for evidence that the disinflationary trend has resumed.&#8221;
At the same time, Liz Ann Sonders, the chief investment strategist, at Charles Schwab highlighted that the spread between S&amp;P 500's forward earnings yield and 10-year Treasury yield has reached a new 23-year low.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Spread between S&amp;P 500's forward earnings yield and 10y Treasury yield has reached new 23-year low <a href="https://t.co/SxoQO7TU9K">pic.twitter.com/SxoQO7TU9K</a>
&mdash; Liz Ann Sonders (@LizAnnSonders) <a href="https://twitter.com/LizAnnSonders/status/1876605073117122574?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
According to RMB Capital, the U.S. consumer remained resilient while U.S. government spending continued unchecked despite sticky inflation and higher interest rates.
&#8220;The incoming administration appears focused on the challenging task of bolstering economic growth while at the same time reducing the deficit. The most critical element of this endeavor will be curtailing the deficit while keeping longer-term yields contained, so as not to disrupt economic expansion,&#8221; it added.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures</a> 
Upcoming Economic Data
<ul>
<li>On Thursday at 8:30 a.m., ET initial jobless claims data for the week ending Jan. 11 will be released.</li>
<li>December&#8217;s U.S. Retail Sales figures will be announced.</li>
<li>The Import Price Index for December will be published.</li>
<li>The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Survey for January will be released.</li>
<li>At 10:00 a.m., ET, the business inventories data for November will be released.</li>
<li>The Home Builder Confidence Index for January will be published.</li>
<li>On Friday, at 8:30 a.m. ET, the Housing Starts and Building Permits data for December will be released.</li>
<li>At 9:15 a.m., ET, the Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization figures for December will be announced.</li>
</ul>
Stocks In Focus:
<ul>
<li>Bank of America Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) was up 0.38% in premarket on Thursday as Wall Street expects it to report quarterly earnings of 77 cents per share on revenue of $25.19 billion before the opening bell.</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) was up 1.49% ahead of its earnings before the opening bell. Analysts expect it to report quarterly earnings of $1.70 per share on revenue of $15.03 billion.</li>
<li>UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) was up 0.4% as Wall Street expects it to report quarterly earnings of $6.72 per share on revenue of $101.76 billion before the opening bell.</li>
<li>Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) was up 4.83% after it beat the fourth quarter revenue and EPS estimate. Its top client Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) was also up 2.04%.</li>
<li>Synovus Financial Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNV#NYSE">SNV</a>) was up 0.46% after reporting upbeat fourth-quarter financial results on Wednesday.</li>
<li>Powell Max Ltd (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PMAX#NASDAQ">PMAX</a>) was up 84.66% as it is targeting firms with between $1 million and $5 million in revenue to expand into the Hong Kong and Asian financial communications market.</li>
<li>Douyu International Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DOYU#NASDAQ">DOYU</a>) was up 23.76% after naming Simin Ren as co-CEO and announced a special cash dividend of $9.94/ADS.</li>
<li>BigBear.ai Holdings Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BBAI#NYSE">BBAI</a>) was up 14.45% as it appointed Kevin McAleenan as CEO and a member of the company&#8217;s board, effective as of Wednesday. McAleenan will replace Mandy Long, who is transitioning to an advisory role.</li>
</ul>
Commodities, Gold And Global Equity Markets:
Crude oil futures were trading lower in the early New York session by 0.30% to hover around $78.47 per barrel.
The gold spot index was up by 0.71% to $2,737.06 per ounce. The Dollar Index was down 0.01% at 109.083 level.
Asian markets closed higher on Thursday as Hong Kong&#8217;s Hang Seng, India&#8217;s S&amp;P BSE Sensex, China&#8217;s CSI 300, Australia&#8217;s ASX 200, Japan&#8217;s Nikkei 225 and South Korea&#8217;s Kospi index rose. European markets were also trading higher.
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</ul>
Photo courtesy: Wikimedia

Market Summary

Analyst Ratings

BBAI

DOYU

PMAX

US Stocks Could Open Higher After Big Banks Report Strong Earnings: Mag 7 Now Account For A Third Of S&P 500's Market Capitalization, Raising Alarms

UnitedHealth Group Affirms 2025 Outlook With Sales Of $450B-$455B And Adjusted EPS Of $29.50-$30.00 Compared To Consensus Of $448.125B And $29.83, Respectively And Cash Flow From Operations Of $32B-$33B

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $6.81 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $6.72 by 1.34 percent. The company reported quarterly sales of $100.81 billion which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $101.76 billion by 0.94 percent. This is a 6.76 percent increase over sales of $94.43 billion the same period last year.

UnitedHealth Group Q4 2024 Adj EPS $6.81 Beats $6.72 Estimate, Sales $100.81B Miss $101.76B Estimate

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index remained in the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone on Wednesday.
U.S. stocks settled higher on Wednesday, with all three major indices recording their best day since Nov. 6.
On the economic data front, the headline Consumer Price Index rose 2.9% year-over-year in December, up from November&#8217;s 2.7%, matching economist forecasts. On a monthly basis, headline inflation increased 0.4%, accelerating from the 0.3% surge in November and marking the largest monthly rise since March 2024.
JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) reported upbeat fourth-quarter FY24 results. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>) reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter financial results. Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>) also reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter financial results and announced a $20 billion buyback.
Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with consumer discretionary, communication services, and financials stocks recording gains on Wednesday. However, consumer staples stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session slightly lower.
The Dow Jones closed higher by around 703 points to 43,221.55 on Wednesday. The S&amp;P 500 rose 1.83% to 5,949.91, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 2.45% at 19,511.23 during Tuesday's session.
Investors are awaiting earnings results from Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>), and UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) today.
What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?
At a current reading of 29.11, the index remained in the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone on Wednesday, versus a prior reading of 29.14.
The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.
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</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Dow Jumps 700 Points Following Inflation Data: Greed Index Remains In 'Fear' Zone

<h3>Companies Reporting Before The Bell</h3>
• Insteel Indus (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IIIN#NYSE">IIIN</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.09 per share on revenue of $117.45 million. 
• Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $2.16 per share on revenue of $26.38 billion. 
• Infosys (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INFY#NYSE">INFY</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.19 per share on revenue of $4.93 billion. 
• Bank7 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BSVN#NASDAQ">BSVN</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.05 per share on revenue of $23.50 million. 
• PNC Finl Servs Gr (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PNC#NYSE">PNC</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $3.30 per share on revenue of $5.49 billion. 
• M&amp;T Bank (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTB#NYSE">MTB</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $3.74 per share on revenue of $2.34 billion. 
• UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $6.92 per share on revenue of $101.09 billion. 
• First Horizon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FHN#NYSE">FHN</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $0.38 per share on revenue of $825.23 million. 
• Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.79 per share on revenue of $25.22 billion. 
• Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $1.51 per share on revenue of $14.35 billion. 
• U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USB#NYSE">USB</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $1.01 per share on revenue of $6.93 billion. 
<h3>Companies Reporting After The Bell</h3>
• JB Hunt Transport Servs (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBHT#NASDAQ">JBHT</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.62 per share on revenue of $3.15 billion. 
• Independent Bank (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INDB#NASDAQ">INDB</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.16 per share on revenue of $175.71 million. 
• Bank OZK (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OZK#NASDAQ">OZK</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.44 per share on revenue of $407.32 million. 
• RF Industries (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RFIL#NASDAQ">RFIL</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.06 per share on revenue of $17.85 million. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

BSVN

IIIN

INDB

JBHT

RFIL

Earnings Scheduled For January 16, 2025

With U.S. stock futures trading higher this morning on Thursday, some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are as follows:
<ul>
<li>Wall Street expects Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) to report quarterly earnings at 77 cents per share on revenue of $25.19 billion before the opening bell, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>. Bank of America shares gained 0.8% to $47.46 in after-hours trading.</li>
<li>Synovus Financial Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNV#NYSE">SNV</a>) reported upbeat fourth-quarter financial results on Wednesday. Synovus Financial shares rose 0.5% to $56.24 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
<li>Analysts expect Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) to post quarterly earnings at $1.70 per share on revenue of $15.03 billion. The company will release earnings before the markets open. Morgan Stanley shares gained 1.3% to $132.20 in after-hours trading.</li>
</ul>
Check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
<ul>
<li>Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg. Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) said net profit climbed 57% year-over-year to a record T$374.68 billion ($11.38 billion). TSMC shares gained 1.3% to $209.40 in the after-hours trading session.</li>
<li>Analysts expect UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) to post quarterly earnings at $6.72 per share on revenue of $101.76 billion before the opening bell. UnitedHealth shares gained 0.3% to $544.89 in after-hours trading.</li>
</ul>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42998360/wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts-give-their-take-on-3-defensive-stocks-delivering-high-dividend-yields-2">Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts Give Their Take On 3 Defensive Stocks Delivering High-Dividend Yields</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Bank of America, Morgan Stanley And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Thursday

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 15 years by 8.74% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 20.51%. Currently, UnitedHealth Group has a market capitalization of $500.10 billion. 
Buying $1000 In UNH: If an investor had bought $1000 of UNH stock 15 years ago, it would be worth $15,728.51 today based on a price of $543.42 for UNH at the time of writing.
<h3>UnitedHealth Group's Performance Over Last 15 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1736984708_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Here's How Much You Would Have Made Owning UnitedHealth Group Stock In The Last 15 Years

Investors and analysts could turn attention to how UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) will replace its insurance unit CEO Brian Thompson, who was fatally shot in December, and how the company will keep public trust as the sector comes under increased scrutiny when the company reports fourth-quarter financial results before <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings">market open Thursday.</a>
Earnings Estimates: Analysts expect UnitedHealth to report fourth-quarter revenue of $101.75 billion, up from $94.43 billion in last year's fourth quarter, according to data<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent011525&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"> from Benzinga Pro.</a>
The company has missed analyst revenue estimates in two straight quarters, while beating estimates in eight of the last 10 quarters.
Analysts expect the company to report fourth-quarter earnings per share of $6.73, up from $6.16 in last year's fourth quarter. The company has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share in nine of the last 10 quarters.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/01/43001214/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>
Key Items to Watch: Thursday's earnings report marks the first quarterly report from UnitedHealth since the company lost Thompson.
Thompson, who was the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/24/12/42316904/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-fatally-shot-outside-nyc-hotel">shot and killed </a>on Dec. 4 in New York City. Luigi Mangione was arrested for the murder and is facing state and federal charges that include<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"> first degree murder.</a> Mangione faces potential sentences of life in prison without parole and the possibility of the death penalty if found guilty.
Analysts and investors may be ready to hear if UnitedHealth will address the challenges of replacing Thompson and moving forward after his passing. Sources told <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-15/ceo-brian-thompson-s-death-looms-over-unitedhealth-earnings-call?sref=TBDibEcD">Bloomberg </a>the company is not ready to immediately replace Thompson.
UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty<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"> recently reportedly told </a>executives the company will hit financial records in the current fiscal year, which could put the company and stock back in the spotlight a month after Thompson's death.
The company's revenue through the first nine months is $299 billion, a company record, and up from $277 billion through the first nine months of 2023.
Health insurance companies like UnitedHealth have come under increased attention and pressure after Thompson's death. A notebook found on Mangione at the time of his arrest mentioned how insurance companies were focused on profits over the public's health.
An entry in the notebook dated Aug. 15 said: "The details are finally coming together." The entry said procrastination had allowed Mangione to learn more about the company he was targeting; the name of the company was redacted.
"The target is insurance…it checks every box," was also written in the notebook alleged to belong to Mangione, according to the federal complaint against him.
Despite being on trial for murder, Mangione has gained a level of public support, with Thompson's death becoming a rallying cry for critics of the health insurance industry, often accused of denying medical claims.
Along with navigating the fallout from Thompson's death and the increased attention on insurance claims, UnitedHealth has found itself a target of incoming President Donald Trump, who<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42517567/cvs-cigna-unitedhealth-shares-slide-as-trump-targets-drug-middleman"> recently spoke out</a> about pharmacy benefit managers.
Trump said he would "knock out" PBMs from the industry, referring to them as drug middlemen, a role they are commonly associated with.
"You know the middleman, right? The horrible middleman that makes more money frankly than the drug companies, and they don't do anything except they're a middleman. We're going to knock out the middleman," Trump said.
UnitedHealth is also facing bipartisan pressure from Congress to push for the breakup of health care conglomerates over PBM practices.
The insurance company also faces scrutiny from the Department of Justice, which has blocked United's $3.3 billion <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42704893/amedisys-and-unitedhealth-extend-merger-deadline-whats-going-on">deal to acquire </a>Amedisys Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMED#NASDAQ">AMED</a>).
Along with any commentary on how the new White House administration and public pressure could impact the company's future growth and operations, investors and analysts may be looking for an update on guidance.
UnitedHealth <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/24/12/42317793/unitedhealth-introduces-2025-guidance-ahead-of-now-stopped-investor-conference">shared 2025 revenue guidance </a>of $450 billion to $455 billion and earnings per share guidance of $28.15 to $28.65 ahead of Thompson's death in December.
UNH, DIA Price Action: UnitedHealth stock trades at $544.11 versus a 52-week trading range of $436.38 to $630.73. UnitedHealth stock is up 4.8% over the last year, but has fallen around 11% since Thompson's death.
The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) and other ETFs that track the Dow Jones Industrial Average will also be in the spotlight Thursday after UnitedHealth's report. United is the second largest component of the Dow Jones Index due to its price-weighted methodology.
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Photo: Shutterstock

Previews

AMED

UnitedHealth Group Q4 Earnings Preview: First Report Since Insurance CEO's Murder Comes With Questions On Company's Future

On Tuesday, the Federal Trade Commission released a second interim staff report detailing significant price markups on specialty generic drugs by UnitedHealth Group Inc.'s (NYSE: UNH) Optum unit, CVS Health Corp.'s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) CVS Caremark, and Cigna Corp.'s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CI#NYSE">CI</a>) Express Scripts.
The <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/01/ftc-releases-second-interim-staff-report-prescription-drug-middlemen" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a> found that these companies generated substantial revenue from markups on essential medications used to treat cancer, HIV, and other critical conditions, often inflating costs by hundreds to thousands of percentage points. 
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/24/11/42097386/cvs-healthcignaunitedhealths-pharmacy-benefit-managers-accuse-ftc-of-overreach-in-effort-to-reshape-drug-rebate-system" rel="noreferrer noopener">Big Pharma's Pharmacy-Benefit Managers Accuse FTC of Overreach In Effort to Reshape Drug Rebate System</a>
From 2017 to 2022, the three largest pharmacy benefit managers and their affiliated pharmacies accrued over $7.3 billion in dispensing revenue that exceeded the drugs' estimated acquisition costs.
The report builds on a prior FTC analysis from July 2024, which revealed that PBM-affiliated pharmacies garnered 68% of specialty drug dispensing revenue in 2023, up <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/07/39695378/ftc-investigation-uncovers-anti-competitive-practices-by-handful-of-pharmacy-benefit-managers-includ" rel="noreferrer noopener">from 54% in 2016</a>.
This occurred as costs to patients, employers, and health plan sponsors steadily rose. FTC Chair Lina Khan emphasized the need for the agency to continue investigating practices that may inflate drug costs and harm independent pharmacies.
The report also identified alarming trends in how PBMs handle specialty generic drugs.
PBM-affiliated pharmacies dispensed a disproportionate share of the most profitable prescriptions, suggesting these companies may be steering business toward their operations. This practice resulted in billions of dollars in additional income, including $1.4 billion from spread pricing — a strategy where PBMs bill plan sponsors more than they reimburse pharmacies for drugs.
The FTC's findings underscore the growing financial impact of PBMs on health care costs.
Between 2017 and 2021, plan sponsors' spending on specialty generic drugs increased at a compound annual growth rate of 21% for commercial claims, with patients' cost-sharing also climbing significantly.
In 2021 alone, plan sponsors paid $4.8 billion, while patients spent $297 million.
The study analyzed 51 specialty generic drugs, including critical medications such as Ampyra, Gleevec, Sensipar, and Myfortic.
These drugs accounted for a significant portion of operating income for the PBMs' parent healthcare conglomerates, with the top 10 drugs alone generating $6.2 billion in dispensing revenue above acquisition costs.
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Photo by Martin Gregor via Shutterstock

Regulations

FTC Says UnitedHealth, CVS, Cigna Make Billions Via PBMs On Specialty Drugs

On Tuesday, Teucrium added the Relative Strength Managed Volatility Strategy ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RSMV#NYSE">RSMV</a>) to its ETF lineup, bringing Teucrium's U.S.-listed ETF tally to nine. This <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">actively managed fund</a> targets long-term capital appreciation for investors while managing risk in volatile markets.
The ETF invests in U.S. growth companies, mainly large-cap stocks with market caps exceeding $10 billion. The portfolio includes 20-50 securities. The ETF keeps the allocation dynamic, meaning during periods of heightened market volatility, it may allocate assets to fixed-income securities, cash, or cash equivalents as a defense.
Top holdings of this fund include United Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>), JP Morgan Chase (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) and Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>).
The fund evaluates macroeconomic conditions and allocates sector weights via a top-down approach. On the other hand, it adopts a bottom-up strategy to pick out individual securities. The fund keeps itself flexible to invest in other ETFs or REITs to improve growth prospects.
The Relative Strength Managed Volatility Strategy ETF has a net expense ratio of 0.95%, which is reasonable considering its active management strategy and risk management features.
The fund&#8217;s active management provides both offensive and defensive benefits. The fund has the advantage of benefiting from momentum-driven market trends and high-growth opportunities. Meanwhile, it can also reduce downside risks during volatile times by allocating to Treasuries and high-quality bonds.
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Photo: Shutterstock

New ETFs

RSMV

WEAT

Maximize Growth, Minimize Risk With New, Dynamic Allocation ETF

UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) is gearing up to release its<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/UNH/earnings"> fourth quarter earnings report</a>, and investors are watching closely. Stephanie Link, CIO at Hightower Advisors LLC, has dubbed the managed care giant the &#8220;number one company on sale&#8221; despite potential near-term earnings pressure.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">&#8216;They&#8217;re Probably Gonna Miss&#8217; Q4 Earnings Expectations </h2>
With estimated earnings per share (EPS) of $6.73 and revenue projections around $101.75 billion according to <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent011525&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a> data, UnitedHealth faces scrutiny over high utilization rates that could dent its profit margins. 
On earnings, &#8220;they're probably gonna miss&#8230;because utilization rates are so strong, so high, and it hurts their cost,&#8221; Link <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2025/01/14/trade-tracker-stephanie-link-buys-unitedhealth.html">remarked</a> during CNBC's Halftime Report. 
However, she sees this as a temporary hiccup, not a long-term trend.
Read Also: <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">UnitedHealth Group CEO Reportedly Says Company Will Hit Financial Records: Exec&#8217;s Murder, Public Outcry Are Backdrop For Q4 Earnings</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">From Beat-And-Raise To Strategic Patience</h2>
UnitedHealth, long celebrated for its consistent earnings beats, hasn't seen much stock movement in the past year, but that hasn&#8217;t dampened Link&#8217;s enthusiasm. &#8220;They have a gem with Optum,&#8221; she said, referring to the segment responsible for 24% of the company's revenue and 12% of operating profits. 
Ongoing M&amp;A activity is bolstering Optum's growth trajectory, even as the broader healthcare sector struggles to find favor with investors.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent011525&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="630" height="490" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/15073053/Screenshot-2025-01-15-at-6.00.36-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-734548" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/15073053/Screenshot-2025-01-15-at-6.00.36-PM.png 630w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/15073053/Screenshot-2025-01-15-at-6.00.36-PM-300x233.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px" /></a></figure>
<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent011525&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>
Technically, UnitedHealth shares are experiencing bullish buying pressure, with the stock trading above its eight, 20 and 200-day simple moving averages (SMAs).
At $543.74 per share, the price positions UNH stock as a bullish signal across these metrics, although its moving average convergence/divergence (MACD) indicator of a negative 6.15 suggests caution. Meanwhile, UNH stock&#8217;s relative strength index (RSI) of 56.86 signals moderate strength but room for additional upward movement.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Buying Opportunity In The Making?</h2>
Historically trading at a premium valuation, UnitedHealth now sits at 17 times earnings, compared to its typical 21 times multiple. &#8220;When I owned it, it was trading at something like 25 times, and every quarter was a beat and raise,&#8221; Link noted. Despite the temporary pressure, she believes the stock&#8217;s visibility will only improve post-earnings.
Link remains bullish on UnitedHealth&#8217;s potential, citing strong fundamentals, a promising $18 billion buyback program and expectations of double-digit earnings and revenue growth ahead. &#8220;We&#8217;re gonna see double-digit growth in earnings and revenues,&#8221; she emphasized, viewing current regulatory and litigation concerns as mere &#8220;noise.&#8221;
UnitedHealth's premium status as the &#8220;number one managed care company&#8221; may make today&#8217;s market lull a golden opportunity for savvy investors.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/news/25/01/42776487/heres-how-much-you-would-have-made-owning-unitedhealth-group-stock-in-the-last-10-years">Here&#8217;s How Much You Would Have Made Owning UnitedHealth Group Stock In The Last 10 Years</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Technicals

UnitedHealth: The 'Number One Company On Sale' Ahead Of Q4 Earnings Report

Traders adopted a cautious approach on Monday as they awaited two critical inflation reports due later this week, seeking clarity on Federal <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42953940/tuesdays-producer-inflation-report-could-stoke-market-volatility-as-fed-path-remains-unclear">Reserve interest rate policy. </a>
Additionally, the kickoff of earnings season, led by major banks on Wednesday, added to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets">the market&#8217;s subdued tone.</a>
The S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq 100 edged lower, continuing Friday&#8217;s downturn sparked by unexpectedly strong jobs data. The lack of &#8220;buy-the-dip&#8221; enthusiasm in the tech-heavy indices signaled lingering uncertainty among investors.
In contrast, the Dow Jones Industrial Average eked out a gain, buoyed by a rally in energy stocks. Rising oil prices provided a key lift, as West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil surged over 3% to approach $78 per barrel — a level last seen in mid-August 2024. The spike followed U.S. sanctions on Russian crude exports announced on Friday, which shifted market expectations around supply and demand.
Treasury yields extended their ascent, with the 10-year yield climbing to 4.79% and the 30-year yield rising to 4.97%, reflecting heightened expectations for tighter monetary policy. Bank of America Securities launched a bombshell indicating rising risks towards a rate hike as the next Fed move.
Commodity markets saw mixed action. Gold endured its sharpest daily loss in nearly a month, falling more than 1% as rising yields weighed on the precious metal. Meanwhile, copper staged a modest rebound, gaining 0.8% after a 0.5% decline last Friday.
Cryptocurrencies faced renewed volatility, with Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) plunging 3% to dip below $92,000, briefly touching a two-month low. The ripple effects extended to crypto-linked equities: MicroStrategy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) slid more than 3%, while Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>) dropped nearly 4%.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Performance In Major U.S. Indices, ETFs</h1>
<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>Dow Jones</td>
<td>42,144.04</td>
<td>0.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,822.92</td>
<td>-0.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,183.39</td>
<td>-0.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>20,739.92</td>
<td>-0.5%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 1:30 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent010625&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>) inched 0.1% lower to $579.98.</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;rose 0.7% to $422.03.</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>) fell 0.6% to $504.44.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) dipped 0.3% to $216.19.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) outperformed, up 2.3%; the&nbsp;Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) lagged, down 1.1%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Major oil &amp; gas giants rallying on Monday include Valero Energy Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VLO#NYSE">VLO</a>), up 5%, Baker Hughes Co. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BKR#NASDAQ">BKR</a>) up 3.9%, and Marathon Petroleum Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MPC#NYSE">MPC</a>) up 3.5%.</li>
<li>Health insurance companies surged after a government proposal suggested increased payments for Medicare Advantage plans in 2026, lifting sentiment across the sector.</li>
<li>Shares of Humana Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUM#NYSE">HUM</a>) rose 7.8%, CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>) followed closely with a 6.9% jump, while UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) saw a 4.8% increase.+</li>
<li>NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) dropped 2.7% to $132.19 as the AI chipmaker urged President-elect Donald Trump to oppose Biden administration regulations on AI technology. Meanwhile, HSBC cut its price target from $195 to $185 but reaffirmed its Buy rating.</li>
<li>Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>) plummeted 20% after projecting 2025 revenue of $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion, missing analysts&#8217; estimates of $2.92 billion. The company also announced it would fast-track its cost-cutting measures.</li>
<li>Edison International (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EIX#NYSE">EIX</a>) fell 12% as authorities investigated whether equipment from its subsidiary, Southern California Edison, played a role in sparking the Hurst fire in Los Angeles.</li>
</ul>
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</ul>
Photo: Ryan DeBerardinis via Shutterstock

Federal Reserve

COIN

MRNA

MSTR

Stocks Edge Down Ahead Of Key Inflation Reports, Crude Hits 5-Month High, Bitcoin Sinks: What's Driving Markets Monday?

CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>), Humana, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUM#NYSE">HUM</a>) and UnitedHealth Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) stock is moving higher on Monday. Here&#8217;s what you <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42953047">need to know</a>.
What To Know: Shares of health insurance companies are trading higher after The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed a rise to Medicare Advantage payments.
According to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-10/us-proposes-21-billion-boost-to-insurers-for-medicare-payments?embedded-checkout=true">Bloomberg</a>, the proposal suggests an average 4.3% increase in Medicare Advantage plan payments. If the plan is adopted, it could lead to an additional $21 billion in payments for 2026 compared to the expected 2025 figures.
This follows concerns from health insurers that current rates are too low to cover medical expenses. 
"While rates in recent years have been considered insufficient" by Medicare insurers, "there is some optimism that rates could improve under a Trump CMS," said JPMorgan analyst Lisa Gill told Bloomberg.
Health insurance companies offering Medicare Advantage plans receive direct payments from the federal government to cover beneficiaries. An increase in these payments could drive higher revenue and improved margins, likely boosting investor confidence in these companies.
Notably, CVS, Humana and UnitedHealth sold more than half of the Medicare Advantage plans in 2024, as reported by KFF. Additionally, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission noted that Medicare Advantage covered more than half of Medicare beneficiaries in 2023.
The U.S. is expected to spend $9.2 trillion over the next decade on payments to private Medicare plans.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/01/42953757/whats-going-on-with-trump-media-technology-group-stock-4">What&#8217;s Going On With Trump Media &amp; Technology Group Stock?</a>
Price Action: At the time of publication, CVS stock is trading 7.43% higher at $51.56, Humana shares are trading 7.38% higher at $289.98 and UnitedHealth stock is moving 4.37% higher at $543.48, according to data from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Image: via Shutterstock

What's Going On With CVS, Humana and UnitedHealth Shares Monday?

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

Shares of health insurers are trading higher after The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposed a rise to Medicare Advantage payments.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) will release earnings results for its fourth quarter, before the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/unh/earnings">opening bell on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.</a>
Analysts expect the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based company to report quarterly earnings at $6.75 per share, up from $6.16 per share in the year-ago period. UnitedHealth projects to report revenue of $101.72 billion for the recent quarter, compared to $94.43 billion a year earlier, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Amedisys Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMED#NASDAQ">AMED</a>) recently announced it extended its merger deadline with UnitedHealth Group. In an exchange filing, the companies entered into a waiver agreement, further advancing their merger deal, originally announced on June 26, 2023.
UnitedHealth shares gained 2% to close at $524.52 on Wednesday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let's have a look at how Benzinga's most-accurate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/UNH/analyst-ratings">analysts have rated the company</a> in the recent period.
<ul>
<li>Truist Securities analyst David Macdonald maintained a Buy rating and cut the price target from $625 to $610 on Jan. 6, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 64%.</li>
<li>Oppenheimer analyst Michael Wiederhorn maintained an Outperform rating and boosted the price target from $610 to $640 on Dec. 6, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 61%.</li>
<li>Stephens &amp; Co. analyst Scott Fidel maintained an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $605 to $675 on Dec. 5, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 67%.</li>
<li>Deutsche Bank analyst George Hill maintained a Buy rating and raised the price target from $595 to $625 on Dec. 3, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 60%.</li>
<li>UBS analyst Kevin Caliendo maintained a Buy rating and cut the price target from $680 to $650 on Oct. 16, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 70%.</li>
</ul>
Considering buying UNH stock? Here&#8217;s what analysts think: 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="418" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/10041356/image-54-1024x418.png" alt="" class="wp-image-727473" style="width:573px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/10041356/image-54-1024x418.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/10041356/image-54-300x123.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/10041356/image-54-768x314.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/10041356/image-54.png 1451w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42900074/how-to-earn-500-a-month-from-synovus-financial-stock-ahead-of-q4-earnings">How To Earn $500 A Month From Synovus Financial Stock Ahead Of Q4 Earnings</a></li>
</ul>

Price Target

UnitedHealth Earnings Are Imminent; These Most Accurate Analysts Revise Forecasts Ahead Of Earnings Call

In today's rapidly changing and highly competitive business world, it is vital for investors and industry enthusiasts to carefully assess companies. In this article, we will perform a comprehensive industry comparison, evaluating UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) against its key competitors in the Health Care Providers &amp; Services industry. By analyzing important financial metrics, market position, and growth prospects, we aim to provide valuable insights for investors and shed light on company's performance within the industry.
<h3>UnitedHealth Group Background</h3>
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.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>P/E</th>
<th>P/B</th>
<th>P/S</th>
<th>ROE</th>
<th>EBITDA (in billions)</th>
<th>Gross Profit (in billions)</th>
<th>Revenue Growth</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>UnitedHealth Group Inc</td>
<td>34.10</td>
<td>5.11</td>
<td>1.25</td>
<td>6.59%</td>
<td>$9.73</td>
<td>$21.39</td>
<td>8.55%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Molina Healthcare Inc</td>
<td>15.21</td>
<td>3.59</td>
<td>0.44</td>
<td>6.78%</td>
<td>$0.51</td>
<td>$1.19</td>
<td>20.96%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Progyny Inc</td>
<td>30.42</td>
<td>3.57</td>
<td>1.56</td>
<td>2.34%</td>
<td>$0.01</td>
<td>$0.06</td>
<td>2.04%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Average</td>
<td>22.82</td>
<td>3.58</td>
<td>1.0</td>
<td>4.56%</td>
<td>$0.26</td>
<td>$0.62</td>
<td>11.5%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<style>
 table {
 width: 100%;
 border-collapse: collapse;
 font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
 font-size: 14px;
 }

 th, td {
 padding: 8px;
 text-align: left;
 }

 th {
 background-color: #293a5a;
 color: #fff;
 text-align: left;
 }

 tr:nth-child(even) {
 background-color: #f2f4f8;
 }

 tr:hover {
 background-color: #e1e4ea;
 }

 td:nth-child(3), td:nth-child(5) {
 text-align: left;
 }

 .dividend-amount {
 font-weight: bold;
 color: #0d6efd;
 }

 .dividend-frequency {
 font-size: 12px;
 color: #6c757d;
 }
 </style>By conducting an in-depth analysis of UnitedHealth Group, we can identify the following trends: 
<ul>
<li>
The Price to Earnings ratio of 34.1 for this company is 1.49x above the industry average, indicating a premium valuation associated with the stock.
</li>
<li>
The elevated Price to Book ratio of 5.11 relative to the industry average by 1.43x suggests company might be overvalued based on its book value.
</li>
<li>
With a relatively high Price to Sales ratio of 1.25, which is 1.25x the industry average, the stock might be considered overvalued based on sales performance.
</li>
<li>
The company has a higher Return on Equity (ROE) of 6.59%, which is 2.03% above the industry average. This suggests efficient use of equity to generate profits and demonstrates profitability and growth potential.
</li>
<li>
The company exhibits higher Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) of $9.73 Billion, which is 37.42x above the industry average, implying stronger profitability and robust cash flow generation.
</li>
<li>
With higher gross profit of $21.39 Billion, which indicates 34.5x above the industry average, the company demonstrates stronger profitability and higher earnings from its core operations.
</li>
<li>
The company is witnessing a substantial decline in revenue growth, with a rate of 8.55% compared to the industry average of 11.5%, which indicates a challenging sales environment.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Debt To Equity Ratio</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1736434858_0.png" alt="debt to equity" />
The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio provides insights into the proportion of debt a company has in relation to its equity and asset value.
Considering the debt-to-equity ratio in industry comparisons allows for a concise evaluation of a company's financial health and risk profile, aiding in informed decision-making.
In light of the Debt-to-Equity ratio, a comparison between UnitedHealth Group and its top 4 peers reveals the following information:
<ul>
<li>
Among its top 4 peers, UnitedHealth Group has a higher debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83.
</li>
<li>
This suggests a greater reliance on debt financing, which can expose the company to increased financial risk and potential volatility.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Takeaways</h3>
For UnitedHealth Group, the PE, PB, and PS ratios are all high compared to its peers in the Health Care Providers &amp; Services industry, indicating potentially overvalued stock. On the other hand, the high ROE, EBITDA, and gross profit suggest strong profitability and operational efficiency. However, the low revenue growth rate may raise concerns about the company's future performance relative to its industry competitors.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

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