$1,000 in UnitedHealth Group 3 Years Ago? Here’s the Life-Changing ROI You Missed
Wall Street’s favorite health giant just flexed its gains—while you were stuck with your 0.01% savings account.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
A $1,000 bet on UnitedHealth Group in 2022 would’ve ballooned into a small fortune by 2025. No meme-stock volatility, no crypto rug pulls—just relentless, boring, institutional-grade compounding.
Why Healthcare Prints Money
UnitedHealth didn’t just ride the post-pandemic wave—it built the damn surfboard. With Medicare Advantage swallowing the market and Optum’s data empire minting cash, this was a wealth-building machine hiding in plain sight.
The Brutal Truth
While retail traders chased Dogecoin and SPACs, the smart money kept stacking healthcare dividends. Another reminder: the 'boring' plays often cash the biggest checks.
Image source: Getty Images.
Past return
With the recent slide, UnitedHealth Group's stock price has fallen 53.1% over the past three years through Aug. 5. The company does pay dividends, which it has increased during this time. When factoring in these payments, the shares have a total return of negative 50.8%.
That loss translates into your $1,000 becoming $492. Clearly, that's disappointing, since no one likes to lose money.
Passive approach
Had you instead placed your money in a broad stock market index like the(^GSPC 0.73%), you'd have done much better. The index returned 59.5%, before fees, over the last three years. This return means your $1,000 investment would currently be worth $1,595.
While no one has a crystal ball, the exercise does show the importance of doing your research, understanding the risks, and monitoring the companies you own.
