UnitedHealth Group stock gains 1.83 percent before Q3 results
Published on 10/04/2026 at 09:43 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
UnitedHealth Group stock (ISIN US91324P1021) closed at USD 371.90 on the NYSE on October 2, 2026, gaining 1.83 percent from the prior close of USD 365.20. The move came as the company reshaped its 2027 Medicare Advantage offering while investors prepared for third-quarter results.
Medicare plans shrink for 2027
UnitedHealth Group is shutting Medicare Advantage plans covering 390,000 people for 2027, according to Yahoo Finance on October 2, 2026. The notices to affected members are dated October 2, and the change adds pressure to a business where enrollment and medical costs are moving in opposite directions.
UnitedHealthcare had 7.565 million Medicare Advantage members as of June 30, 2026, according to the same report. Open enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7, placing the plan changes ahead of a period that will shape the 2027 membership base.
Q2 margin recovery meets a caveat
UnitedHealth Group generated USD 112.032 billion of revenue in Q2 2026, up 0.4 percent from USD 111.616 billion a year earlier, according to Financial Report Insights. Diluted EPS rose 61.5 percent to USD 6.04 from USD 3.74, while adjusted EPS increased 56.4 percent to USD 6.38 from USD 4.08.
The medical care ratio fell to 86.7 percent from 89.4 percent, a 2.7 percentage point improvement. Operating earnings rose 55.2 percent to USD 7.991 billion, but the second-quarter figure included USD 860 million of favorable prior-period reserve development, making the full-year medical care ratio guidance of 88.1 percent an important test of recurring performance.
Q3 results set for October 13
UnitedHealth Group states that it will release Q3 2026 results before the market opens on October 13, 2026, followed by an 8:00 a.m. ET conference call. The Zacks consensus estimate is USD 4.12 of EPS for the quarter ending September 2026, according to Zacks.
That report will be measured against the Q2 improvement and the membership reset. The key question is whether lower medical costs can offset the revenue effect of fewer members.
Stock remains below yearly high
UnitedHealth Group stock traded within a USD 364.47 to USD 372.68 session range on October 2, 2026, with volume of 3,310,328 shares. Its 52-week range was USD 255.97 to USD 461.62, leaving the closing price USD 89.72 below the yearly high.
UnitedHealth Group stock at a glance
- Company: UnitedHealth Group Incorporated
- ISIN: US91324P1021
- Ticker: UNH
- Trading venue: NYSE
- Price (as of October 2, 2026, 4:00 p.m. ET): USD 371.90 Closing price
- Market capitalization: USD 337.7 billion (as of October 2, 2026)
- 52-week range: USD 255.97-461.62 (as of October 2, 2026)
- Sector / Industry: Health Care / Managed Health Care
- Next earnings date: October 13, 2026
