JPMorgan challenged to predict litigation impact on UnitedHealth

JPMorgan keeps an Overweight rating on UnitedHealth (UNH) after the company disclosed it is complying with formal criminal and civil requests from the Department of Justice. The company has also launched an internal review of its related risk-coding practices, the analyst tells investors in a research note. JPMorgan thinks any litigation resulting from the DOJ’s requests could be lengthy and shaped by the outcome of existing litigation and the court-appointed Special Master’s report regarding the company’s Medicare Advantage practices. As such, the firm finds it challenging to handicap any real impact to UnitedHealth. The stock in morning trading is down 2% to $287.17.