UnitedHealth rises after 2026 profit forecast raise
BUZZ-UnitedHealth rises after 2026 profit forecast raise Updates
** Shares of health insurer UnitedHealth Group UNH.N gain 7.9% to $451.67
** The firm raises its 2026 profit forecast on tightened spending on medical costs and improved operating income in its Optum health services business
** Expects 2026 adjusted profit per share of $19.50 to $20.00, analysts expect profit of $18.47 per share, per LSEG data
** "We see today's print as confirmatory of the bull-case thesis that improved trend and management of the business are beginning to drive a multi-year acceleration in earnings growth," Evercore ISI says
** "Today's reported metrics surpass our expectations & we believe investors' as well" - Cantor Fitzgerald
** Other health insurers Humana HUM.N, CVS Health CVS.N and Oscar Health OSCR.N were up between 1% and 2%
** UNH reports Q2 adj. profit of $6.38 per share vs estimates of $4.90 per share
** Including session's move, UNH up 36.7% YTD
(Reporting by Sneha S K and Kunal Das)