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UNH Stock Earnings Preview: What to Expect from UnitedHealth’s Q1 Results

Tipranks - Tipranks - Sat Apr 18, 4:40AM CDT

UnitedHealth (UNH), one of the prominent players in the health insurance space, is scheduled to announce its first-quarter 2026 results before the market opens on Tuesday, April 21. The stock gained after the CMS announced a 2.48% rate increase for private insurers in 2027, offering clarity for its Medicare Advantage business. Still, shares remain down about 3% year-to-date, pressured by rising medical costs and softer 2026 guidance.

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According to TipRanks’ Options Tool, options traders are expecting about a 6.16% move in either direction in UNH stock in reaction to Q1 results. This implied move is lower than UnitedHealth stock’s average post-earnings move (in absolute terms) of 12.5% over the past four quarters.

What to Expect from UnitedHealth on April 21

Meanwhile, analysts expect the company to report earnings per share of $6.59, representing an 8% decrease year-over-year.  Revenue is forecast to reach $109.50 billion, roughly in line with the year-ago quarter.

It is worth noting that UnitedHealth has missed earnings estimates in two of the past eight quarters.

Analysts’ Views Ahead of UNH’s Q1 Earnings 

Heading into the Q1 print, top Morgan Stanley analyst Erin Wright has turned increasingly bullish on UnitedHealth. The five-star analyst reiterated a Buy rating with a $375 price target and named UNH her “Top Pick.” She said investor sentiment has been weak, but is starting to improve after clarity on Medicare Advantage rates.

Wright also expects better margins in the Medicare Advantage (MA) business, a recovery in Optum Health, and gradual gains from AI-led efficiencies. For Q1, she believes an in-line result should be enough to support the stock.

Likewise, Bernstein analyst Lance Wilkes raised his price target on UNH to $411 from $405 and maintained a Buy rating. He said the higher rate should improve medical loss ratios and support margins in 2027. He also expects 2027 EPS to grow about 1.4%, driven by stronger Medicare Advantage margins.

Is UnitedHealth a Good Stock to Buy Right Now? 

Turning to Wall Street, UNH stock has a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 18 Buys, five Holds, and zero Sells assigned in the last three months. At $366.24, the average UnitedHealth stock price target implies a 15.75% upside potential.

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