US EditionUnitedHealth Group Reports 2025 Results and Issues 2026 Outlook
UnitedHealth expects 2026 revenue to decline 2% to $439 billion due to elevated medical costs and plans to reduce membership by over 3 million to restore margins, CFO said.
- On Tuesday, UnitedHealth Group Inc. reported fourth-quarter results with adjusted earnings of $2.11 per share versus $2.10 expected and revenue of $113.2 billion versus $113.82 billion expected, then issued 2026 guidance forecasting revenue over $439 billion and adjusted earnings above $17.75 per share.
- Amid rising medical costs from Medicare Advantage patients returning for delayed procedures, UnitedHealth projects trends above 11% while PwC forecasts a lower 8.5%.
- Management said the turnaround will rely on right‑sizing by divesting U.K. and South America operations, shrinking membership, repricing plans, and expects a U.S. membership decline of more than 3 million in 2026.
- UNH shares plunged, with UNH stock down 15.79% at $296.11 in premarket trading as the company's sales guidance falls far below the $454.6 billion analysts expected and proposed CMS changes could cut $6 billion in revenue.
- Management argues recent moves position the firm for margin gains, with the company projecting a medical benefit ratio of 88.8% ± 50 basis points and an operating cost ratio of 12.8% ± 50 basis points, said Wayne DeVeydt.
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UnitedHealth Heads Into Q4 Earnings As Elevated Medical Costs Loom — Is Stability In Sight? - UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH)
With health insurer UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH) set to report its fourth-quarter results on Tuesday, investors remain focused on elevated medical costs, which weighed on the company’s margins and profitability throughout the past year. Are Medical Costs Set To Normalize? During the company’s third-quarter results three months ago, UnitedHealth acknowledged that cost pressures remained elevated across the industry and expected it to remain…
UnitedHealth (UNH) Stock Tumbles as Insurer Reports First Revenue Decline in Decade
TLDR UnitedHealth beat Q4 earnings expectations with $2.11 per share but missed revenue estimates at $113.2 billion The company forecasts 2026 revenue above $439 billion, marking a 2% decline and the first revenue drop in a decade UnitedHealth expects to lose more than 3 million members in 2026 as part of its turnaround strategy The medical benefit ratio improved to 88.8% projected for 2026, down from 89.1% in 2025 Medicare Advantage payment ra…
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