UnitedHealth faces unprecedented combined pressure from Medicare Advantage rate cuts, pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) regulatory scrutiny, and elevated medical cost trend that compressed margins meaningfully in 2025. Optum Health and Rx growth slowing as care utilization remains elevated. Change Healthcare cyberattack remediation costs lingering. Political risk on insurance industry profitability remains high. Long-term Optum thesis intact but near-term earnings power impaired.
Thesis reviewed May 29, 2026
UnitedHealth Group Inc. is headquartered in United States, which is currently showing moderate signals.
🇺🇸United States48EARLYView United States risk detail →🏥Healthcare35NEUTRAL| Ticker | Company | Score | Gap | Signal Δ | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TMO | Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. | 38 | +11% | ↓3% | EARLY |
| SYK | Stryker Corporation | 38 | +15% | ↓3% | EARLY |
| TEVA | Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. | 38 | +9% | ↓3% | NEUTRAL |
| ELV | Elevance Health Inc. | 38 | +7% | ↓3% | NEUTRAL |
| CI | The Cigna Group | 38 | +9% | ↓3% | NEUTRAL |
| HCA | HCA Healthcare Inc. | 38 | +9% | ↓3% | EARLY |
| DHR | Danaher Corporation | 38 | +11% | ↓3% | EARLY |
Investors who hold UNH may also have indirect exposure through these country funds.
UnitedHealth medical cost ratio above 85%, multi-year high
CMS finalizes another year of MA rate pressure
Congressional hearings on PBM practices accelerate
Estimates · Yahoo Finance · Not audited figures
| Politician | Party | Type | Amount | Trade Date | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donald J. TrumpFL | R | Buy | $100k–$100k | Mar 2, 26 | |
| Donald J. TrumpFL | R | Buy | $100k–$100k | Mar 18, 26 | |
| Gilbert CisnerosCA | D | Buy | $1k–$15k | Apr 14, 26 | |
| Maria Elvira SalazarFL | R | Buy | $1k–$15k | Apr 22, 26 | |
| Gilbert CisnerosCA | D | Buy | $1k–$15k | Mar 13, 26 | |
| Richard Dean Dr McCormickGA | R | Buy | Unknown amount | Apr 7, 26 | |
| Richard Dean Dr McCormickGA | R | Buy | $1k–$15k | Mar 19, 26 | |
| Josh GottheimerNJ | D | Buy | $1k–$15k | Feb 5, 26 | |
| Markwayne Mullin | Buy | $50k–$100k | Feb 25, 26 | ||
| Gilbert CisnerosCA | D | Sell | Unknown amount | Feb 10, 26 | |
| Katie Britt | Buy | $1k–$15k | Apr 14, 25 | ||
| Katie Britt | Sell | $1k–$15k | Apr 30, 25 | ||
| Kevin HernOK | R | Buy | Unknown amount | Dec 23, 25 | |
| Julie JohnsonTX | D | Buy | $1k–$15k | Dec 18, 25 | |
| Julia LetlowLA | R | Buy | $1k–$15k | Oct 23, 24 | |
| Julia LetlowLA | R | Buy | $1k–$15k | Apr 22, 25 | |
| Julia LetlowLA | R | Buy | $1k–$15k | May 27, 25 | |
| Gilbert CisnerosCA | D | Buy | Unknown amount | Dec 19, 25 | |
| Sheldon Whitehouse | Sell | $15k–$50k | Sep 4, 25 | ||
| Markwayne Mullin | Buy | $15k–$50k | Sep 24, 25 |