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What's in Store for UnitedHealth's (UNH) Earnings in Q3?
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UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH - Free Report) is scheduled to report third-quarter 2021 results on Oct 14, before the opening bell.
Q3 Estimates
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share is pegged at $4.41, indicating a rise of 25.64% from the year-ago quarter's reported figure. The consensus mark for revenues stands at $71.55 billion, suggesting growth of 9.89% from the prior-year quarter's reported number.
Key Factors to Note
Revenues from UnitedHealthcare (contributes to 78% of total revenues), the company’s largest segment that sells insurance, are likely to have risen on higher membership in community and senior programs. The company is likely to have added members to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, Medicaid. Solid insurance sales of dental and vision plans might have aided premium growth.
In another segment named Optum (22% of revenues), top-line growth is expected to have been driven by higher contribution from its sub-segments OptumHealth and Optum Insight. OptumRx is likely to have shown tepid growth.
Coming to its subsegment OptumHealth, revenues and earnings are likely to have improved on higher revenues per consumer served. This upside might have been led by an increased number of people served under value-based care arrangements and the rising acuity of the care services offered by the company.
Optum Insight's revenues and earnings are likely to have gone up owing to growth in services and technology offerings, and improved productivity. New business wins, contract extensions and pipeline growth in comprehensive managed services are expected to have boosted the top line.
Operating cost ratio, which measures the expense incurred in proportion to revenues, is likely to have decreased following the cancellation of the health insurance tax and continued operating efficiency gains. This, in turn, is likely to have been partly offset by business mix, and heavy investment in growth and innovation.
The company’s bottom-line result is expected to reflect the net unfavorable impact of COVID-19, such as testing and treatment costs. The return of care, which was deferred in 2020 due to the pandemic, might have shot up utilization and claims, eventually.
Earnings Surprise History
The company boasts a stellar earnings surprise history. Its bottom line beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average being 12.49%. This is depicted in the chart below:
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated Price and EPS Surprise
The proven Zacks model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for UnitedHealth this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. But that’s not the case here.
Earnings ESP: UnitedHealth has an Earnings ESP of +1.95%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Some other stocks worth considering from the medical space with the perfect mix of elements to surpass estimates in their upcoming quarterly releases are as follows:
Anthem, Inc. has an Earnings ESP of +2.71% and is Zacks #3 Ranked, currently.
HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA - Free Report) is currently Zacks #2 Ranked and has an Earnings ESP of +11.08%.
Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +14.83% and a Zacks Rank of 2, currently.
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What's in Store for UnitedHealth's (UNH) Earnings in Q3?
UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH - Free Report) is scheduled to report third-quarter 2021 results on Oct 14, before the opening bell.
Q3 Estimates
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share is pegged at $4.41, indicating a rise of 25.64% from the year-ago quarter's reported figure. The consensus mark for revenues stands at $71.55 billion, suggesting growth of 9.89% from the prior-year quarter's reported number.
Key Factors to Note
Revenues from UnitedHealthcare (contributes to 78% of total revenues), the company’s largest segment that sells insurance, are likely to have risen on higher membership in community and senior programs. The company is likely to have added members to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, Medicaid. Solid insurance sales of dental and vision plans might have aided premium growth.
In another segment named Optum (22% of revenues), top-line growth is expected to have been driven by higher contribution from its sub-segments OptumHealth and Optum Insight. OptumRx is likely to have shown tepid growth.
Coming to its subsegment OptumHealth, revenues and earnings are likely to have improved on higher revenues per consumer served. This upside might have been led by an increased number of people served under value-based care arrangements and the rising acuity of the care services offered by the company.
Optum Insight's revenues and earnings are likely to have gone up owing to growth in services and technology offerings, and improved productivity. New business wins, contract extensions and pipeline growth in comprehensive managed services are expected to have boosted the top line.
Operating cost ratio, which measures the expense incurred in proportion to revenues, is likely to have decreased following the cancellation of the health insurance tax and continued operating efficiency gains. This, in turn, is likely to have been partly offset by business mix, and heavy investment in growth and innovation.
The company’s bottom-line result is expected to reflect the net unfavorable impact of COVID-19, such as testing and treatment costs. The return of care, which was deferred in 2020 due to the pandemic, might have shot up utilization and claims, eventually.
Earnings Surprise History
The company boasts a stellar earnings surprise history. Its bottom line beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average being 12.49%. This is depicted in the chart below:
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated Price and EPS Surprise
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated price-eps-surprise | UnitedHealth Group Incorporated Quote
What Our Quantitative Model Predicts
The proven Zacks model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for UnitedHealth this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. But that’s not the case here.
Earnings ESP: UnitedHealth has an Earnings ESP of +1.95%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: UnitedHealth carries a Zacks Rank #2, currently. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here
Other Stocks to Consider
Some other stocks worth considering from the medical space with the perfect mix of elements to surpass estimates in their upcoming quarterly releases are as follows:
Anthem, Inc. has an Earnings ESP of +2.71% and is Zacks #3 Ranked, currently.
HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA - Free Report) is currently Zacks #2 Ranked and has an Earnings ESP of +11.08%.
Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +14.83% and a Zacks Rank of 2, currently.