UnitedHealth will report earnings before the open tomorrow
UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:UNH) will announce its first-quarter report before the open tomorrow, April 17. Ahead of the event, Wall Street anticipates earnings of $7.27 per share, a 5.2% increase from the same quarter a year ago, on revenue of $111.01 billion.
UNH has been rallying since its late-February bear gap, hitting a nearly four-month high of $606.36 this past Friday. Year-to-date, the equity is up 16.8% despite broad-market pressures, and sits above all moving averages between the 20- and 320-day trendlines, including the 180-day, which kept gains in check in the beginning of the year.
UnitedHealth stock has a split history of earnings moves, closing higher after four of the last eight quarters. Over these past two years, UNH averaged a 5.6% next-day swing, regardless of direction, which is slightly higher than the 5% move the options pits are pricing in this time around.
It's worth noting that all 22 analysts in coverage carry a "buy" or better rating already, so upgrades in the event of a positive post-earnings move are unlikely.