UnitedHealth Group (UNH)
NYSEHealth CareMedical - Healthcare PlansSnapshot 2026-09-04
$397.14-0.95%
Close 2026-09-04 · 1-day change
NYSEHealth CareMedical - Healthcare PlansSnapshot 2026-09-04
QuarterlyIQ Insights · UNH
How strong the business is — where it ranks within its sector on capital efficiency and cash generation, and how well management has been executing.
How this business ranks within health care on a research-validated quality screen. As of 2026-09-04.
The screen ranks UNH against its sector on four durable signals: share dilution, return on capital, free-cash-flow yield, and FCF margin. Historically the highest-quality names tended toward better typical outcomes and fewer bad years over multi-year holds (strongest at three years, modest at one), and that pattern showed up even before the price moved. It characterizes business quality, not price direction.
Each leg is a sector-relative percentile (higher is better); 4 of 4 legs were available for this name. The composite is built from these four; the raw value follows each percentile for context.
A forward quality tilt, not a price prediction, and context for your own research rather than a recommendation. Not investment advice.
How management runs the business: capital, margins, balance sheet, and how reliably they guide and deliver.
Each factor is a parallel diagnostic with a clear read of what it shows and how names like it have historically fared. Never aggregated into a single score.
Operating income rose in 1 of the last 3 quarter-over-quarter moves. Historically, Health Care names rated strong grew net income 53% of the time over the next year (vs 41% for the rest of the cohort, n=9986).
Not investment advice. Scores describe historical and current data; they are not forecasts of future returns. Consult a licensed advisor before making investment decisions.
A guidance track record builds as the company issues and delivers on guidance.
Priorities management has stated in recent disclosures, with status and evidence drawn from earnings calls, filings, and press releases.
Continue to grow earnings per share with updated full year 2026 adjusted net earnings guidance between $19.50 and $20.00 per share.
Stated as a priority in 3 of last 3 quarters. Adjusted EPS guidance was raised from greater than $17.75 per share in 2025-Q4 to a range of $19.50 to $20.00 per share in 2026-Q2. Reported diluted EPS was $6.90 in 2026-Q1 and $6.04 in 2026-Q2, reflecting ongoing execution. The trajectory matches management's stated commitment to raise EPS outlook.
“The company now expects full year 2026 adjusted net earnings between $19.50 to $20.00 per share.”
“The company expects full year 2026 adjusted net earnings of greater than $18.25 per share.”
“The 2026 outlook was set for adjusted earnings outlook greater than $17.75 per share.”
Continue disciplined cost management to improve operating margins across UnitedHealthcare and Optum businesses.
Stated as a priority in 4 of last 4 quarters. Medical care ratio improved from 89.9% in 2025-Q3 to 86.7% in 2026-Q2, reflecting cost and pricing discipline. UnitedHealthcare operating margin increased from 2.1% in 2025-Q3 to 4.6% in 2026-Q2. The trajectory shows delivering on disciplined cost management and margin improvement.
Focus on growth and operational improvements in Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx segments.
Stated as a priority in 4 of last 4 quarters. Optum revenues declined from $69.2B in 2025-Q3 to $65.7B in 2026-Q2, reflecting membership attrition and strategic right-sizing. However, earnings grew from $2.5B to $4.0B, showing operational improvements and margin expansion. The trajectory is mixed with growth in earnings but revenue decline.
Grow UnitedHealthcare membership and improve operating margins through pricing discipline and benefit design.
Stated as a priority in 4 of last 4 quarters. UnitedHealthcare membership declined from 50.1 million in 2025-Q3 to 48.5 million in 2026-Q2, reflecting attrition and planned exits. Operating margin improved from 2.1% to 4.6% over the same period due to pricing discipline and benefit design changes. The trajectory shows mixed membership contraction but margin improvement.
“UnitedHealthcare served 48.5 million consumers with operating margin of 4.6%.”
UnitedHealth Group aims to achieve an EPS of greater than $17.35 for the full year 2026.
Over the trailing year it converted 0.62x of net income into operating cash flow. Historically, Health Care names rated neutral grew net income 54% of the time over the next year (vs 43% for the rest of the cohort, n=3313).
Not enough signal yet.
Not enough signal to read sensitivity to the broad stock market, the US dollar, Fed net liquidity, long-term interest rates, real (inflation-adjusted) rates (low R² over the window).
9 material management or governance events in the past 24 months, led by executive changes. Historically, Health Care names rated stable grew net income 46% of the time over the next year (vs 53% for the rest of the cohort, n=3872).
Not investment advice. As of 2026-09-04.
“Medical cost ratio was 86.7% reflecting cost and pricing discipline.”
“Medical cost ratio was 83.9% down 90 basis points from prior year.”
“Adjusted medical care ratio was 88.9%, reflecting pricing discipline.”
“Medical care ratio of 89.9% was in line with expectations.”
“Optum revenues of $65.7 billion and earnings of $4.0 billion with margin expansion.”
“Optum revenues of $63.7 billion and earnings of $3.3 billion.”
“Optum revenues of $70.3 billion and earnings of $0.1 billion due to restructuring.”
“Optum revenues of $69.2 billion and earnings of $2.5 billion.”
“UnitedHealthcare served 49.1 million consumers with operating margin of 6.6%.”
“UnitedHealthcare served 49.8 million consumers with operating margin of 0.4%.”
“UnitedHealthcare served 50.1 million consumers with operating margin of 2.1%.”