Warren Buffett backed UnitedHealth Group Inc-UNH stocks rise ahead of Q3 earnings results. What investors can expect?

UnitedHealth Group Inc-UNH stocks on Monday were up by 0.25 per cent to $363.47 in the early morning trade in New York Stock Exchange. UnitedHealth Group will report Q3 earnings results 2025 on October 28, 2025, before the opening bell. Some long-term UnitedHealth Group investors are putting their faith in the return of a CEO with a proven track record. Investors, billionaire Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway among them, have reacted favorably to the selection of Stephen Hemsley, who took over in May after the company missed its earnings projections for the first time since 2008.

Hemsley, who led UnitedHealth between 2006 and 2017, signed a three-year contract with a possible payout of $60 million in stock. He also bought shares totaling around $25 million.

Since Buffett's August purchase of 5 million shares, which was followed by other large hedge fund purchases, the stock price has rebounded nearly 50 per cent to $362.50, far off the low of $245 in May. Still, shares are down around 30 per cent this year and over 40 per cent from their all-time high of almost $631 last November.


Stephanie Link, chief investment strategist at Hightower Advisors which owns over 400,000 shares, said she expects UnitedHealth's insurance business to return to its long-term profit margin goals by next year. She sees improved company-wide growth in later years as it addresses rising healthcare costs.

Since the second-quarter earnings miss, at least eight analysts covering UnitedHealth have raised share-price targets, citing potential growth at Optum. Analysts on average are estimating a third-quarter profit of $2.82 per share, according to LSEG data.

Investors are also looking for UnitedHealth to raise its full-year profit forecast, which was below analyst estimates. Analysts currently expect it to report 2025 earnings of $16.20 per share, according to LSEG.

James Harlow, senior vice president at Novare Capital Management, which owns over 50,000 shares, said: "I think UnitedHealth realizes it needs to get back to its beat-and-raise cadence to earn back investor trust."

FAQs

Q1. What do investors expect from UnitedHealth?
A1. Investors are also looking for UnitedHealth to raise its full-year profit forecast, which was below analyst estimates. Analysts currently expect it to report 2025 earnings of $16.20 per share, according to LSEG.

Q2. What are symbol of UnitedHealth Group Inc?
A2. The symbol of UnitedHealth Group Inc is UNH.