Analysts Bullish on UnitedHealth Group Ahead of Q3 Earnings

Wall Street analysts are increasingly optimistic about UnitedHealth Group (UNH) as the health insurance giant prepares to release its third-quarter earnings. KeyBanc Capital Markets and Bernstein SocGen have both raised their price targets, citing improved fundamentals, stronger Star Ratings, and early signs of margin recovery in the healthcare sector.

Bernstein analyst Lance Wilkes elevated his price target to $433 from $379, maintaining an Outperform rating. He anticipates third-quarter EPS of approximately $2.84, potentially meeting or slightly exceeding estimates. Investors are keenly awaiting updates on 2026 guidance, with UNH previously projecting mid- to high-single-digit EPS growth.

Despite recent challenges—including margin compression, elevated Medicare Advantage costs, and a DOJ probe—analysts see a clearer earnings trajectory that could attract long-term capital. The market expects Q3 EPS of $2.81 on $113.1 billion in revenue.