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UnitedHealth (UNH) Stock Analysis

This is a peer-relative look at UnitedHealth (UNH): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Health Care Equipment & Services peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.

Company Profile

Company profile fields for UnitedHealth (UNH)
Profile ItemUNH
NameUnitedHealth Group Inc.
Country/RegionUnited States
GICS SectorHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupHealth Care Equipment & Services
GICS IndustryHealth Care Providers & Services
GICS Sub-IndustryManaged Health Care
Market Capitalization375.28 billion USD
CurrencyUSD
ExchangeNYSE
Listing DateOctober 17, 1984
Security TypeCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

UNH
GSPC
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UnitedHealth (UNH) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for UnitedHealth (UNH) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for UnitedHealth (UNH) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

UnitedHealth (UNH) metric values compared with Health Care Equipment & Services industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: UNHIndustry group median
Total Return (1Y)19.08%11.95%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-5.14%8.86%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)0.37%-2.70%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

UNH
GSPC
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UnitedHealth (UNH) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for UnitedHealth (UNH) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

UnitedHealth (UNH) metric values compared with Health Care Equipment & Services industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: UNHIndustry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)34.87%50.48%
Beta (5Y)0.520.89
Max Drawdown (5Y)-61.39%-70.34%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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Each dot is a stock plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. UNH is highlighted; the dashed line is the Capital Allocation Line from the risk-free rate through the industry median — dots above it are stronger on a risk-adjusted basis.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

UnitedHealth (UNH) metric values compared with Health Care Equipment & Services industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: UNHIndustry group median
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.420.19
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.570.31

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

UnitedHealth (UNH) posts ROE of 15.77%, in the upper peer quartile. That suggests the company earns more from each dollar of shareholders’ equity than most industry peers, a useful capital-efficiency signal.

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

15.77%

Group distribution
Max
47.06%
UNH
15.77%
Q3
15.36%
Median
4.45%
Q1
-14.58%
Min
-54.14%
Largest peers
ISRG
17.93%
SYK
16.51%
UNH
15.77%
MDT
10.65%
CVS
6.21%
ABT
--
MCK
--
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Where UnitedHealth (UNH) stands on ROE within its Health Care Equipment & Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Net Margin (TTM)

UnitedHealth (UNH) keeps 3.53% of revenue as net profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal net margin range. Its full cost stack is taking a typical share of sales for the industry.

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.53%

Group distribution
Max
29.35%
Q3
9.25%
UNH
3.53%
Median
1.95%
Q1
-7.20%
Min
-30.69%
Largest peers
ISRG
25.54%
SYK
14.43%
MDT
13.93%
ABT
9.75%
UNH
3.53%
CVS
1.19%
MCK
1.12%
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Where UnitedHealth (UNH) stands on net margin within its Health Care Equipment & Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Operating Margin (TTM)

UnitedHealth (UNH) turns 5.82% of revenue into operating profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal operating margin range. Its core cost structure looks typical for the industry.

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

5.82%

Group distribution
Max
34.98%
Q3
13.79%
Median
6.41%
UNH
5.82%
Q1
-1.53%
Min
-22.53%
Largest peers
ISRG
33.29%
SYK
27.02%
MDT
19.33%
ABT
11.34%
UNH
5.82%
CVS
3.86%
MCK
1.35%
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Where UnitedHealth (UNH) stands on operating margin within its Health Care Equipment & Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Profitability Metrics

UnitedHealth (UNH) metric values compared with Health Care Equipment & Services industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: UNHIndustry group median
ROE (TTM)15.77%4.45%
ROA (TTM)5.24%3.44%
Net Margin (TTM)3.53%1.95%
Operating Margin (TTM)5.82%6.41%
Gross Margin (TTM)20.05%55.35%

Growth

Revenue Growth

UnitedHealth (UNH) grew revenue 11.81%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Top-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

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UnitedHealth (UNH): Revenue Growth across different time periods, set against Health Care Equipment & Services industry-group medians.

EPS Growth

UnitedHealth (UNH) grew earnings per share -14.70%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Bottom-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

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UnitedHealth (UNH): EPS Growth across different time periods, set against Health Care Equipment & Services industry-group medians.

Growth Metrics

UnitedHealth (UNH) metric values compared with Health Care Equipment & Services industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: UNHIndustry group median
Revenue Growth (YoY)11.81%11.65%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)11.35%10.83%
EPS Growth (YoY)-14.70%4.84%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-14.52%13.93%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

UnitedHealth (UNH) has current ratio of 0.74, in the tighter-liquidity quartile for its industry. The short-term cushion is thinner than most peers carry, even if the absolute comfort level still depends on the business model.

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.74

Group distribution
Max
7.62
Q3
3.97
Median
1.95
Q1
1.33
UNH
0.74
Min
0.30
Largest peers
ISRG
3.33
SYK
2.16
MDT
2.07
MCK
0.89
CVS
0.87
UNH
0.74
ABT
--
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Where UnitedHealth (UNH) stands on current ratio within its Health Care Equipment & Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

UnitedHealth (UNH) has debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal leverage range. Its mix of debt and equity looks typical for the industry.

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.70

Group distribution
Max
1.88
Q3
0.95
UNH
0.70
Median
0.63
Q1
0.15
Min
0.00
Largest peers
CVS
0.96
UNH
0.70
SYK
0.64
ABT
0.63
MDT
0.55
ISRG
--
MCK
--
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Where UnitedHealth (UNH) stands on debt-to-equity ratio within its Health Care Equipment & Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Financial Strength Metrics

UnitedHealth (UNH) metric values compared with Health Care Equipment & Services industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: UNHIndustry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.741.95
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.700.63
Net Debt / EBITDA1.582.15

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

UnitedHealth (UNH) has dividend yield of 0.52%, above the entire industry range. That headline income is large, but yields this far above peers often come from a falling share price or an at-risk payout, so dividend safety matters more than the percentage itself.

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.52%

Group distribution
UNH
0.52%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Largest peers
MDT
2.95%
CVS
2.82%
ABT
2.46%
SYK
1.13%
UNH
0.52%
MCK
0.32%
ISRG
0.00%
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Where UnitedHealth (UNH) stands on dividend yield within its Health Care Equipment & Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

UnitedHealth (UNH) has payout ratio of 57.56%, above the peer distribution for its industry. The dividend consumes more reported earnings than peers normally do, leaving unusually thin earnings cover.

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

57.56%

Group distribution
UNH
57.56%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Largest peers
ABT
78.71%
MDT
70.02%
CVS
70.00%
UNH
57.56%
SYK
36.06%
MCK
8.79%
ISRG
0.00%
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Where UnitedHealth (UNH) stands on payout ratio within its Health Care Equipment & Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Metrics

UnitedHealth (UNH) metric values compared with Health Care Equipment & Services industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: UNHIndustry group median
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.52%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)57.56%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

UnitedHealth (UNH) trades at P/E ratio of 26.89, near the industry’s usual earnings multiple. The stock is not showing a clear peer discount or premium on trailing earnings.

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

26.89

Group distribution
Max
79.70
Q3
46.26
Median
27.90
UNH
26.89
Q1
21.03
Min
1.53
Largest peers
ISRG
54.69
ABT
38.55
SYK
31.83
UNH
26.89
MCK
26.82
CVS
24.60
MDT
23.44
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Where UnitedHealth (UNH) stands on P/E ratio within its Health Care Equipment & Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

UnitedHealth (UNH) trades at 0.83 on P/S ratio, in the lower sales-valuation quartile for its industry. That points to a cheaper revenue stream than most peers, with margin quality still doing the heavy lifting.

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.83

Group distribution
Max
9.08
Q3
4.41
Median
2.25
Q1
1.13
UNH
0.83
Min
0.03
Largest peers
ISRG
13.80
SYK
4.56
ABT
3.72
MDT
3.25
UNH
0.83
CVS
0.29
MCK
0.28
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Where UnitedHealth (UNH) stands on P/S ratio within its Health Care Equipment & Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

UnitedHealth (UNH) trades at 3.62 on P/B ratio, roughly in line with the industry’s normal price-to-book range. Its balance sheet is not being priced at a clear discount or premium versus peers.

UNH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.62

Group distribution
Max
12.66
Q3
6.45
UNH
3.62
Median
3.21
Q1
1.62
Min
-1.35
Largest peers
ISRG
9.81
SYK
4.91
UNH
3.62
ABT
3.51
MDT
2.43
CVS
1.50
MCK
-27.38
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Where UnitedHealth (UNH) stands on P/B ratio within its Health Care Equipment & Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Valuation Metrics

UnitedHealth (UNH) metric values compared with Health Care Equipment & Services industry-group medians
MetricCurrent stock: UNHIndustry group median
P/E Ratio (TTM)26.8927.90
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.832.25
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.623.21
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)7.06%3.34%