Overview
- UnitedHealth reported stronger-than-expected first‑quarter results, with revenue of $111.7 billion and adjusted earnings of $7.23 per share helped by a lower medical benefit ratio of 83.9 percent.
- The medical benefit ratio shows how much of each premium dollar goes to medical care, and coming in below forecasts suggested lower claim costs than Wall Street feared.
- After a steep slide over the past year, the stock now trades at a lower valuation than before, a setup that some investors say could make gains more likely if the recovery holds.
- TV host Jim Cramer urged buying the shares and credited returning CEO Steve Hemsley for what he called the best managed care earnings he has seen in years.
- Caution remains as Senator Chuck Grassley’s investigation says the company used aggressive tactics to boost Medicare Advantage risk scores, and UnitedHealth also moved to standardize electronic prior authorization to speed care decisions across its plans by 2026.