New York, Jan 26, 2026, 10:51 EST — Regular session
- UnitedHealth shares dropped roughly 1.8%, slipping to $349.74 in late morning trading.
- UnitedHealth Group is set to release its full-year 2025 results and provide guidance for 2026 on Tuesday, before the market opens. 1
- Analysts point to Medicare Advantage cost trends and the 2026 outlook as the main variables to watch. 2
Shares of UnitedHealth Group dropped 1.8% to $349.74 on Monday, underperforming the wider health insurance sector as investors braced for the company’s upcoming earnings.
The report arrives at a tricky time for managed-care stocks as investors search for signs that medical-cost pressures are easing and pricing is starting to catch up. UnitedHealth’s guidance usually sets the pace, given its status as the biggest player in the sector and a Dow component.
UnitedHealth plans to report its full-year 2025 financial results and update guidance for 2026 on Tuesday, Jan. 27, ahead of the market open. The company will hold a conference call at 8:00 a.m. ET. 1
As earnings hit the tape, all eyes are on Medicare Advantage, the private alternative to traditional Medicare for seniors. Rising use in that segment has squeezed margins industry-wide. Traders want any clue that this pressure might be easing. 2
TipRanks data projected earnings per share of $2.12 on $113.8 billion in revenue for the quarter, highlighting a sharp year-over-year earnings decline driven by medical-cost pressures. MarketBeat’s preview showed slightly lower estimates, with $2.09 EPS and $113.38 billion in revenue. 2
UnitedHealth’s action caught attention again. Humana dipped roughly 0.9%, Cigna edged down around 0.5%. Elevance nudged up a bit, and CVS held steady.
Wall Street is adjusting targets without changing ratings. On Jan. 23, Morgan Stanley’s Ricky Goldwasser nudged the price target down slightly to $409 from $411 but held firm on an “Overweight” rating, Benzinga reported. Earlier this month, Barclays’ Andrew Mok actually raised his target. 3
Separately, Baird analyst Michael Ha described UnitedHealth’s plan to rebate Affordable Care Act marketplace profits as a “potentially masterful move.” He noted it might put pressure on exchange-heavy competitors, especially if policymakers consider broader rebate or clawback rules. 4
Washington continues to be a flashpoint for UnitedHealth. Earlier this month, a Senate Judiciary Committee report accused the company of using “aggressive tactics” to inflate Medicare Advantage payments. UnitedHealth pushed back against those claims. 5
The downside risk this week is clear: if UnitedHealth’s 2026 guidance signals ongoing cost pressures or introduces new regulatory concerns, the stock might gap sharply when earnings drop. According to TipRanks, options traders are bracing for about a 6.3% swing either way. 2
Tuesday’s earnings reports and guidance, dropping before the open, stand as the next big trigger. After that, attention shifts to the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting on Jan. 27-28, with the rate decision set for Wednesday afternoon — a setting ripe for stirring up individual stock volatility. 6
