Why UnitedHealth Shares Are Slipping Before Earnings

UnitedHealth ( (UNH) ) is experiencing volatility. Read on for a possible explanation for the stock’s unusual movement.

UnitedHealth shares have come under pressure as investors react to a U.S. Department of Justice probe into its Medicare Advantage billing practices and concerns over rising medical costs, both of which contributed to a sharp profit decline a year ago. While the stock has recovered in recent months and is still up for the year, analysts are bracing for a notable drop in fourth‑quarter earnings per share despite continued revenue growth, prompting them to tweak their outlooks rather than issue broad upgrades. Their cautious stance focuses on UnitedHealth’s efforts to rebuild margins — including exiting unprofitable lines of business and resetting Medicare Advantage benefits — as key drivers of any longer‑term recovery. Options trading and Wall Street commentary suggest investors expect a more muted share move after the upcoming earnings release, with particular attention on management’s 2026 guidance and the pace of margin improvement.

More about UnitedHealth

YTD Price Performance: 7.92%

Average Trading Volume: 7,493,477

Technical Sentiment Signal: Hold

Current Market Cap: $322.7B

For further insights into UNH stock on TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page.

See more of today’s top stock gainers and losers.