UnitedHealth beats Q3 estimates, raises 2026 profit outlook to at least $20.50
The gist
UnitedHealth beat Q3 Wall Street estimates and raised its annual profit outlook to at least $20.50 per share.
The largest US health insurer's recovery from a weak January guidance is still uneven.
How it unfolded
- Mar 27, 2026UnitedHealth reported 2025 revenue of $447.6 billion and guided 2026 revenue above $439.0 billion with adjusted earnings above $17.75 per share; the outlook missed Wall Street expectations and the stock fell sharply.
- May 8, 2026After first-quarter 2026 results, a higher full-year outlook and plans to cut prior authorization requirements, the stock's 30-day return was 20.15% and 90-day return 33.65%, while the 1-year total shareholder return was slightly negative.
- Jul 18, 2026Q2 2026 adjusted EPS was $6.38 versus a $4.92 estimate and revenue $112.03 billion versus $110.86 billion expected; full-year adjusted EPS guidance moved to $19.50-$20 and the medical care ratio fell to 86.7% from 89.4% a year earlier.
Key terms
- Dow component
- Financial contracts to buy or sell the Dow Jones Industrial Average stock index at a set price on a future date.
- Medicare Advantage
- A type of US health plan offered by private insurers as an alternative to traditional government Medicare.
- medical care ratio
- A financial ratio of incurred medical claims to premium revenue, used to gauge insurer profitability.
Source: Wikipedia