UnitedHealth Group Incorporated Common Stock (DE) (UNH) earnings date & stock reaction
UNH · UnitedHealth Group Incorporated Common Stock (DE) · Healthcare
“The company now expects full year 2026 adjusted net earnings of at least $20.50 per share, incorporating experience through the third quarter 2026.”
- ▲Operating profit and margin expansion
- Operating earnings reached $6.6 billion, up from $4.3 billion in the same period last year.
- Net margin improved to 3.6% compared to 2.1% in the prior year quarter.
- ▲Raised full-year guidance
- The company raised its 2026 full-year adjusted earnings outlook to at least $20.50 per share.
- ▲Improved medical cost management
- The medical care ratio (MCR) decreased to 88.4% from 89.9% in the year-ago quarter, reflecting disciplined cost management.
- ▼Revenue and membership decline
- Total revenue was $112.7 billion, down from $113.2 billion in the third quarter of 2025.
- Medicare Advantage membership dropped by 935,000 since year-end 2025, and employer-sponsored members fell by 165,000.
- ▼Optum Health segment contraction
- Optum Health revenue declined 10% year-over-year to $22.9 billion.
- Optum Rx adjusted scripts fell to 393 million from 414 million in the same quarter last year.
- ▼Increase in debt-to-capital ratio
- The debt-to-capital ratio rose to 41.7% from 41.2% in the second quarter.
Price after the latest report
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated Common Stock (DE) (UNH) rose the day after earnings in 5 of its last 12 reports (42%), moving ±7.3% on average. It has fallen despite beating the consensus estimate 4 times.
Even when EPS beat expectations, the stock fell 5 of the last 10 times. The number alone doesn't move it.
When results drop, check the metric above vs last quarter and whether guidance beats expectations.
The real bar for this stock
Beating estimates isn't enough. Here's where the real surprise started.
How this stock reacts to earnings
Traits seen across its recent earnings reactions
Earnings number vs guidance: which drives it?
How often the beat/miss matched the actual price move
4/9 beats fell next day · watches Medical loss ratio · membership · guidance
- Sep 2026 report-0.2%
- Jun 2026 report+1.2%
- Mar 2026 report+7.0%
- Dec 2025 report-19.6%
- Sep 2025 report+0.5%
- Jun 2025 report-7.5%
Earnings timeline · bars = next-day move, ▲▼ = beat/miss
Earnings trend · last 12 quarters
Earnings history and price reaction
| Quarter ended | Reported (ET) | vs market expectation (consensus) | Earnings day | After 5 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/2026 | 2026-10-13 | +13.3% | -0.2% | — |
| 6/2026 | 2026-07-16 | +29.8% | +1.2% | +3.1% |
| 3/2026 | 2026-04-21 | +9.5% | +7.0% | +9.7% |
| 12/2025 | 2026-01-27 | +0.2% | -19.6% | -18.8% |
| 9/2025 | 2025-10-28 | +4.0% | +0.5% | -8.8% |
| 6/2025 | 2025-07-29 | -8.2% | -7.5% | -14.6% |
12 reports, quarters ending 12/2023 to 9/2026. The earnings-day move is the first trading day that reflects the report; the five-day figure is the cumulative move from that point.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next UnitedHealth Group Incorporated Common Stock (DE) earnings date?
The next UnitedHealth Group Incorporated Common Stock (DE) (UNH) earnings report is expected Tue, January 26 around 8:00 AM ET, before the open. It comes from an earnings calendar and may not be a company-confirmed date; it updates automatically if it changes.
Does UnitedHealth Group Incorporated Common Stock (DE) (UNH) stock usually go up after earnings?
Over the last 12 earnings reports, the stock rose on 5 of them (42%). The average move on earnings day was ±7.3%.
Does UnitedHealth Group Incorporated Common Stock (DE) react more to the earnings numbers or to guidance?
In 4 of the last 11 reports (36%), the stock moved the opposite way from whether it beat or missed the forecast. A high share means guidance and expectations drive the move more than the reported numbers.
Can UnitedHealth Group Incorporated Common Stock (DE) stock fall even when earnings are good?
Yes. In 5 of the last 12 reports, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated Common Stock (DE) fell on the earnings day despite growing EPS. Expectations already priced in, or guidance, can matter more than the reported numbers.
Does UnitedHealth Group Incorporated Common Stock (DE) stock keep moving after the earnings day?
Over the last 11 reports, the move continued in the same direction for the following five trading days 64% of the time. This tendency is known as post-earnings announcement drift.