UnitedHealth Group will report earnings before the open on Thursday
Health insurance stock UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:UNH) is up 4.4% to trade at $543.83 at last check, after the U.S. government proposed raising Medicare Advantage payment plans in 2026. This comes ahead of the company's fourth-quarter and full-year results, due out before the open on Thursday, Jan. 16. This will also be the first time executives speak publicly since the assassination of CEO Brian Thompson on Dec. 4.
Prior to an extended slide after the events of early December, the stock hit a Nov. 11 record high of $630.73. More recently, UNH has bounced off familiar support at $480, with today's pop helping it reclaim its 320-day moving average and move into positive territory year over year.
UNH has a split post-earnings history over the last two years, finishing four next-day sessions higher and four lower. The stock also averaged a 4.6% swing, regardless of direction, after its last eight earnings reports. This time around, the options pits are pricing in a bigger 6.9% move.
Leading up to the event, analysts are wholeheartedly bullish. Despite the recent pullback, 22 of the 24 analysts in coverage carry a "strong buy" rating, while the remaining two say "buy." Plus, the 12-month consensus price target of $640.16 is a roughly 17% premium to current levels.