UNH Stock Dives 25% After United Healthcare Earnings Report, Pulls DJIA Down 1%

The United Healthcare share price has lost 25% of the value today, after disappointing financial results which indicate surging costs.

United Healthcare (UNH) shares dive as medical costs surge

Quick overview

  • UnitedHealth (UNH) shares plummeted 25% today following disappointing Q1 earnings that revealed surging costs.
  • The company's revenue of $109.58 billion fell short of analysts' expectations, marking the first earnings miss in over a decade.
  • This significant decline has negatively impacted the Dow Jones Industrial Average and triggered a broader retreat in health insurance stocks.
  • Despite a year-over-year revenue increase, the underwhelming performance has raised concerns about potential structural shifts in the health insurance market.

The United Healthcare (UNH) share price has lost 25% of the value today, after disappointing financial results which indicate surging costs.

UnitedHealth’s Rally Reverses as Disappointing Q1 Earnings Rattle Investors

After a sharp rally that began last Tuesday and sent UnitedHealth (UNH) shares soaring to $600, the stock experienced a dramatic reversal, tumbling all the way down to $450—a stunning 25% drop. This steep decline has not only erased the prior week’s gains but also triggered a broader retreat in health insurance stocks.

UNH Stock Chart Daily – Diving to $250s

UnitedHealth’s poor performance weighing heavily on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, where it’s one of the largest components. In contrast, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite remained relatively more stable, though the ripple effects from the UNH earnings miss were clearly felt.

Earnings Miss Breaks Decade-Long Streak

For the first quarter of 2025, UnitedHealth reported revenues of $109.58 billion, a year-over-year increase of 9.8%, yet still 1.4% below analysts’ expectations, which had been set at $111.13 billion. Meanwhile, earnings per share (EPS) came in at $7.20, a modest rise from $6.91 a year earlier but slightly below the forecasted $7.27, marking an EPS surprise of -0.96%.

The company’s product revenue reached $13.04 billion, slightly shy of the $13.33 billion average forecast by analysts, although it did represent a healthy 9.5% gain compared to last year. On the services side, revenue came in at $8.97 billion, up just 1% year-over-year and well below the expected $9.76 billion.

Shock to the System: UNH Breaks Pattern of Upward Revisions

This underwhelming performance has rattled confidence, not just because of the miss itself, but because it represents the first time in over ten years that UnitedHealth has come up short on profit expectations. The company is typically known for beating estimates and raising guidance, driven by the steady rise in health insurance premiums that fuel its revenue. The rare guidance miss has raised eyebrows and left investors wondering whether this signals a structural shift or just a temporary misstep.

The sell-off has been severe, and its impact has spread across the broader healthcare sector. Despite continued revenue growth and a stable long-term outlook, this earnings stumble has disrupted the narrative of unstoppable profitability in the health insurance space.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR See More
Skerdian Meta
Lead Analyst
Skerdian Meta Lead Analyst. Skerdian is a professional Forex trader and a market analyst. He has been actively engaged in market analysis for the past 11 years. Before becoming our head analyst, Skerdian served as a trader and market analyst in Saxo Bank's local branch, Aksioner. Skerdian specialized in experimenting with developing models and hands-on trading. Skerdian has a masters degree in finance and investment.

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