UnitedHealth (UNH), the largest U.S. health insurer, is up more than 20% since posting weaker-than-expected Q2 results on July 29. Even though UNH issued weak profit guidance, Wall Street analysts continue to see long-term value in UnitedHealth Group. Two analysts, Bernstein and Wolfe Research, reiterated bullish views on the stock, pointing to its strong competitive position and earnings upside potential.
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Bernstein Lifts Price Target on UNH Stock
Bernstein analyst Lance Wilkes raised his price target on UnitedHealth Group to $379 from $337, while maintaining an Outperform rating. Wilkes expects the managed care sector to bounce back. He said big companies like UnitedHealth and Elevance Health (ELV) are the safest way for investors to benefit from that recovery.
The analyst sees UNH as a strong long-term investment. He pointed to the company’s ability to drive meaningful earnings growth over time, and believes that the stock looks fairly priced right now.
Wolfe Research Sees Earnings Power Intact for UNH
Likewise, Wolfe Research analyst Justin Lake reaffirmed an Outperform rating with a $330 price target after UnitedHealth’s updated 2025 outlook. He said the company’s new 2025 profit forecast was mostly in line with Wall Street expectations. At the same time, management lowered its growth goals for Medicare and Medicaid insurance businesses, as well as for OptumHealth, the unit that runs clinics and other health services. These cuts suggest UnitedHealth’s future profits could be about 15% lower than earlier projections.
Still, Lake believes UnitedHealth can reach around $30 in earnings per share by 2028/2029, which supports his positive view on the stock.
What Is the Future of UNH Stock?
Turning to Wall Street, UNH stock has a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 17 Buys, two Holds, and one Sell assigned in the last three months. At $317.80, the average UnitedHealth stock price target implies a 0.76% upside potential.
