UnitedHealth Group (UNH) could issue "conservative" earnings guidance for 2025 that falls short of consensus expectations, potentially below $20 per share, Morgan Stanley analysts said in an earnings preview note Monday.
The health insurance provider, which cut its full-year earnings outlook then pulled the guidance in May, could restore its outlook but set it "prudently" lower than $20.94 per share, which Morgan Stanley analysts are forecasting for 2025. Analysts polled by FactSet are expecting full-year EPS of $21.56.
Before pulling its full-year earnings outlook, the company said in April it was expecting adjusted earnings of $26 to $26.5 per share, down from a prior outlook of $29.5 to $30 per share.
UnitedHealth is scheduled to report Q2 earnings on July 29.
Morgan Stanley cut its price target to $342 from $374, but reiterated an overweight rating on the stock.
Disclaimer: Investing carries risk. This is not financial advice. The above content should not be regarded as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation on acquiring or disposing of any financial products, any associated discussions, comments, or posts by author or other users should not be considered as such either. It is solely for general information purpose only, which does not consider your own investment objectives, financial situations or needs. TTM assumes no responsibility or warranty for the accuracy and completeness of the information, investors should do their own research and may seek professional advice before investing.