UnitedHealth Q3 Earnings Preview Amid Stock Decline and AI Innovation
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) faces a pivotal moment as it prepares to release third-quarter earnings on October 28. The healthcare giant's stock has plummeted 27% year-to-date, pressured by margin compression, rising Medicare Advantage costs, and an ongoing DOJ investigation. Wall Street remains cautiously optimistic, projecting a 61% EPS decline to $2.82 alongside 12% revenue growth to $113.04 billion.
The company is testing Optum Real, an AI-powered billing system designed to streamline claims processing. This innovation comes as UNH seeks to regain investor confidence after beating EPS estimates in seven of the last nine quarters. Market watchers anticipate margin recovery by 2026, though near-term upside appears limited.