New York, January 10, 2026, 12:41 (ET) — Market closed.
- Shares of UnitedHealth slipped 0.8% on Friday, ending the day at $343.98
- Senators expanded their investigation into UnitedHealth’s nursing-home programs, citing responses they deemed inadequate
- Investors have their eyes on the Jan. 13 CPI data and UnitedHealth’s earnings call on Jan. 27 as key upcoming events
Shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated slipped 0.8% on Friday, ending the session at $343.98. The drop came amid heightened scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers targeting the company’s nursing-home programs. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden said they’re broadening their investigation after deeming the insurer’s response inadequate, and warned they would deploy “all tools” at their disposal if UnitedHealth fails to fully cooperate. (Becker’s Hospital Review)
Political pressure is mounting as investors wrestle with UnitedHealth’s ability to stabilize 2026 forecasts following a turbulent period for managed-care shares. The insurer plans its fourth-quarter and full-year earnings call on Jan. 27, a key moment that usually shapes guidance and its views on medical cost trends. (UnitedHealth Group)
The spotlight isn’t limited to the Senate. U.S. House lawmakers have summoned the CEOs of UnitedHealth and several big rivals to testify on Jan. 22 about coverage affordability, highlighting growing scrutiny on insurers as earnings season approaches.
The Senate inquiry zeroes in on programs linked to nursing home residents enrolled in Medicare Advantage, the private alternative to traditional Medicare. Senators are probing if financial incentives and internal procedures might be deterring medically necessary hospital transfers.
Warren and Wyden want answers by Jan. 28, Fierce Healthcare reported. UnitedHealth responded, saying it will “continue to engage” with the senators and pushed back against accusations that it or Optum jeopardize patient safety. The company said its methods “improve outcomes” and “reduce unnecessary hospitalizations.”
UnitedHealth lagged as the market rallied Friday, with health insurers showing a split picture. CVS Health dropped 0.37%, Elevance Health fell 0.52%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.65%, according to MarketWatch data. (MarketWatch)
UnitedHealth is still well off its 52-week peak of $606.36, despite managing to stay above recent lows. Its 50-day moving average hovers near $331. The stock’s 52-week range spans from $234.60 up to $606.36, per Yahoo Finance.
Macro data could stir markets ahead of the next session. The Labor Department will publish the December consumer price index on Jan. 13 at 8:30 a.m. ET. Then, the Federal Reserve holds its January policy meeting from Jan. 27-28.
Wall Street expects UnitedHealth to report roughly $2.09 per share for the quarter ending December 2025, according to Nasdaq’s earnings page. Investors usually focus more on that figure and the company’s outlook for 2026 than on whether the earnings headline beats or misses.
The downside risk is clear: this inquiry has no set end date and could quickly spark headlines. Should lawmakers push for more disclosures or steer regulators toward certain practices, investors might see it as a looming drag on guidance — particularly if medical-cost assumptions shift unfavorably.
Trading kicks off Monday against the backdrop of Washington. Investors will focus first on any developments from Capitol Hill before the Jan. 22 House hearing, then turn their attention to UnitedHealth’s Jan. 27 earnings call and the Senate deadline on Jan. 28.
