TLDR
- Bernstein raised its UNH price target to $492 from $444, keeping an Outperform rating
- The new target implies roughly 27ā30% upside from UNH’s current price of $376.86
- Bernstein expects 16% adjusted EPS compound annual growth rate during the Medicare Advantage recovery phase
- Target P/E was lifted to 21.5x from 20x, as UNH’s forward P/E has already risen from 18.7x to 19.6x this year
- 14 analysts have revised earnings estimates upward, though the broader Wall Street consensus sits at a Moderate Buy with an average target of $397.05
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) got a boost on Tuesday after Bernstein SocGen Group raised its price target on the stock to $492 from $444, while keeping its Outperform rating. The stock is currently trading at $376.86.
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, UNH
The new target represents around 27% upside from current levels. Bernstein analyst Lance Wilkes pointed to improving Medicare Advantage trends and an earnings recovery as the key drivers behind the upgrade.
UNH has had a rough year. Investors have been worried about rising medical costs and weaker Medicare Advantage margins, and the stock has felt that pressure.
But Wilkes thinks the tide is turning. He now expects adjusted earnings per share to grow at around 16% annually during the recovery phase ā a rate he says justifies a higher valuation multiple.
What’s Driving the Higher Target
Bernstein lifted its target price-to-earnings ratio to 21.5x from 20x. That’s still below where UNH has historically traded during periods of strong earnings growth of 13% to 16%.
The stock’s forward P/E has already started moving. It stood at 18.7x at the start of the year and has since climbed to 19.6x, suggesting some investors are already pricing in a recovery.
Wilkes believes further multiple expansion is likely as confidence in UNH’s long-term growth returns. InvestingPro puts UNH’s Fair Value at $472.26, also flagging the stock as undervalued at current prices.
The company carries a market cap of $342 billion and holds a “Good” financial health score according to InvestingPro. Fourteen analysts have revised their earnings estimates upward for the coming period.
What Else Is Going On at UnitedHealth
UNH has had a busy few months beyond just the analyst activity.
Its Optum Rx division recently announced a new transparent pharmacy benefit manager model, shifting to a fee-based pricing structure. The move is designed to remove spread pricing and make pharmacy costs more predictable.
UnitedHealthcare also said it plans to cut prior authorization requirements for 30% of healthcare services by the end of 2026. That covers select outpatient surgeries and diagnostic tests.
On the regulatory side, UnitedHealth is dealing with a temporary pause on Medicare enrollments for new home healthcare and hospice providers. The Trump administration’s anti-fraud task force announced the hold to assess spending and tackle fraud concerns.
Broader Wall Street sentiment remains cautiously positive. Out of 23 analysts tracked in the past three months, 18 rate UNH a Buy, four say Hold, and one says Sell ā a Moderate Buy consensus overall.
The average price target across Wall Street sits at $397.05, implying just 5.36% upside ā well below Bernstein’s more bullish $492 call.
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