United Health stock forecast: Third-party price targets
UnitedHealth Group is a large US healthcare company, and its share price is closely followed as traders assess earnings releases, guidance updates and regulatory developments alongside wider market conditions. Explore UNH’s recent price action, third-party price targets and technical analysis.
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) is trading around $339.05 on 16 January 2026 as of 9:48am UTC, with intraday moves so far contained between a low of $329.89 and a high of $339.05 on Capital.com’s feed, highlighting a relatively tight session range during the current trading window. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.
Recent flows are occurring ahead of UnitedHealth Group’s scheduled release of full-year 2025 results and 2026 financial guidance on 27 January 2026 (Businesswire, 12 December 2025), after the company indicated it would reaffirm its adjusted 2025 earnings-per-share outlook in investor communications (The Globe and Mail, 13 January 2026).
United Health stock forecast 2026–2030: Third-party price targets
As of 16 January 2026, third-party United Health stock predictions fall within a relatively narrow band around the high-$380s to mid-$390s, with most brokers publishing 12-month views that imply potential upside from current spot levels. The following summaries focus on recently dated forecasts and consensus snapshots from late December 2025 through January 2026, covering both headline targets and the key assumptions behind them.
Barchart (consensus snapshot)
Barchart reports that the average analyst 12-month price target for UnitedHealth stands at about $394.91 per share, with a cited Street-high target of $440 and an implied upside of roughly 17% from the then-prevailing price. The article notes that this view reflects expectations of margin recovery and earnings growth, as analysts weigh UNH’s scale and diversified operations against regulatory and reimbursement risks into 2026 (Barchart, 1 January 2026).
Benzinga (broker updates overview)
Benzinga’s roundup of broker UNH stock forecasts highlights that the three most recent analyst ratings from Barclays, TD Cowen and Bernstein carry an average price target of about $389.67 per share, implying just over 15% upside versus the quoted price at the time. The report notes that these targets are based on expectations of improving Medicare Advantage profitability and more stable regulatory conditions, while still acknowledging dispersion in individual broker assumptions and time horizons (Benzinga, 14 January 2026).
MarketWatch (consensus estimates page)
MarketWatch’s analyst estimates page shows an average UnitedHealth target price near $396.75 across roughly 30 contributing analysts, alongside an ‘overweight’-style average recommendation. The platform notes that the consensus incorporates a range of assumptions around 2025–2026 earnings trajectories, with many contributors flagging reimbursement trends and utilisation patterns as key variables in their models (MarketWatch, 16 January 2026).
Investing.com (analyst forecast page)
Investing.com’s UNH stock forecast section reports an average 12-month price target around $393.85 based on 28 covering analysts, with documented high and low estimates spanning a broad range. The page indicates that this dispersion reflects differing views on how quickly Medicare Advantage margins normalise and how UNH balances growth investments with cost controls as sector conditions evolve (Investing.com, 16 January 2026).
Predictions and third-party forecasts are inherently uncertain, as they cannot fully account for unexpected market developments. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.
UNH stock price: Technical overview
The UNH stock price is quoted around $339.05 as of 9:48am UTC on 16 January 2026, with price holding around a rising moving-average cluster, as the 20-, 50-, 100- and 200-day SMAs sit near 335 / 330 / 337 / 341, respectively. The 14-day RSI, at around 53, suggests mid-range, neutral momentum, while an ADX reading near 14 points to a weakly defined trend despite the supportive short-term average structure.
On the topside, the nearest classic resistance sits at $343.53, with a daily close above that level bringing the $356.94 area (R2) back into focus as the next pivot band. On pullbacks, initial support aligns with the classic pivot around $331.56, followed by the 100-day SMA near $337.04 as a key moving-average shelf, while a break through S1 at $318.15 could expose deeper levels on the downside (TradingView, 16 January 2026).
This technical analysis is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any instrument.
United Health share price history (2024–2026)
UnitedHealth’s share price has seen a sharp reset over the past two years, sliding from around $516 at the start of 2024 to $339.05 at the close on 16 January 2026. The stock spent much of 2024 trading in a relatively tight range near $580–$610 through the autumn before rolling over into year-end, closing 2024 at $506.50 and then extending losses through 2025, as prices fell from above $580 in early December 2024 to about $329.90 by 31 December 2025.
Through 2025, the path was volatile. UnitedHealth briefly rallied into the mid-$600s in late 2024, before dropping sharply from a closing high near $599.62 in April 2025 to the mid-$250s by August, then recovering into the low-to-mid-$300s towards year-end and edging higher into the $330–$345 zone in early January 2026. The current quote of $339.05 on 16 January 2026 leaves the share roughly one-third lower than its early-2024 levels, but modestly above the 2025 low near $237.95, recorded on 1 August 2025.
Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.
United Health (UNH): Capital.com analyst view
The UNH stock price has undergone a pronounced reset over the past two years, moving from levels above $500 in early 2024 to around $339 in mid-January 2026, as health insurance and managed-care names have contended with shifting regulatory, reimbursement and cost dynamics. This decline may be interpreted by some market participants as reflecting tighter margins, higher utilisation and policy uncertainty, while others may view the repricing as creating scope for future recovery should earnings and cash flows stabilise.
At the same time, the stock’s rebound from its 2025 lows in the mid-$230s back into the $330–$340 area highlights how sentiment can adjust as investors reassess company guidance, sector fundamentals and broader US equity conditions. For some traders, this recovery may be seen as reflecting renewed confidence in UnitedHealth’s scale and diversification, while a more cautious interpretation would emphasise that ongoing policy changes, claims trends and macroeconomic volatility could continue to influence valuations and contribute to further price swings.
Summary – United Health stock price
- UnitedHealth’s share price fell sharply across 2025, dropping from above $580 in early January to $329.90 by 31 December 2025.
- The stock recorded its 2025 closing low near $237.95 on 1 August, before recovering into the low-$300s by year-end.
- Volatility remained elevated, with a steep slide from the mid-$500s in April to the mid-$200s in August, followed by a gradual rebound into the $320–$340 area.
- By early January 2026, UnitedHealth was trading around $339, leaving it well below 2024 levels but above its mid-2025 trough.
- Technical signals into mid-January 2026 show price hovering above a short-term moving-average cluster, with RSI in neutral territory and overall trend strength remaining relatively weak.
Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.
FAQ
Who owns the most UnitedHealth stock?
UnitedHealth Group’s shareholder base is dominated by large institutional investors rather than individual owners. Major asset managers such as the Vanguard Group, BlackRock and State Street are among the largest holders, reflecting the stock’s inclusion in many broad US equity and healthcare-focused funds. Ownership levels can change over time as institutions rebalance portfolios, track index weightings or adjust exposure based on market conditions and company-specific developments.
What is the five-year UnitedHealth share price forecast?
There is no single agreed five-year share price forecast for UnitedHealth, as most analyst projections typically focus on a 12-month horizon. Longer-term expectations tend to vary widely and depend on assumptions around healthcare regulation, reimbursement trends, cost control and earnings growth. Any extended outlook should be treated as highly uncertain, as forecasts rely on models that can change materially with new information or shifts in market conditions.
Is UnitedHealth a good stock to buy?
Whether UnitedHealth is considered a 'good' stock depends on an individual’s objectives, time horizon and risk tolerance. The company operates at scale within the US healthcare system, but its share price has experienced periods of significant volatility. Factors such as regulatory developments, cost pressures and earnings guidance can influence performance. This information does not constitute investment advice, and traders typically weigh both potential opportunities and risks before taking exposure.
Could UnitedHealth stock go up or down?
Yes, UnitedHealth’s share price can move both higher and lower. Like other large healthcare stocks, it is influenced by company earnings, guidance updates, regulatory decisions and broader market sentiment. Short-term price movements may also reflect positioning around results or macroeconomic data, while longer-term trends depend on how the business performs relative to expectations. Past price behaviour does not reliably indicate future performance.
Should I invest in UnitedHealth stock?
Deciding whether to invest in UnitedHealth is a personal decision that depends on your financial situation, goals and understanding of the risks involved. This article does not provide investment advice. Some market participants focus on fundamentals such as earnings and cash flows, while others consider technical factors or shorter-term price dynamics. It’s important to conduct your own research and, where appropriate, seek independent professional advice before making any investment decision.
Can I trade UnitedHealth CFDs on Capital.com?
Yes, you can trade United Health CFDs on Capital.com. Trading share CFDs lets you speculate on price movements without owning the underlying asset and to take long or short positions. However, contracts for difference (CFDs) are traded on margin, and leverage amplifies both profits and losses. You should ensure you understand how CFD trading works, assess your risk tolerance, and recognise that losses can occur quickly.