5 Best Stocks to Buy for the Next 50 Years

2. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 103

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) is a diversified American healthcare company, offering insurance and consumer-oriented health benefit plans to employers. The company increased its quarterly per share dividend by 13.8% to $1.65 in June 2022. This marks the 11th-straight year of annual dividend increases by UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH). 

On June 16, Loop Capital analyst Joseph France initiated coverage of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) with a ‘Buy’ rating and a $575 price target. The analyst said UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) is one of the top managed care players, with leading market share in the commercial and government benefits markets. The analyst added that the company’s scale, sector leadership, and innovative technology are “major” competitive advantages.

According to Insider Monkey’s Q1 data, 103 hedge funds were bullish on UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH), up from 96 funds in the previous quarter. Boykin Curry’s Eagle Capital Management held the biggest stake in the company, with 2.90 million shares worth about $1.5 billion. 

Here is what Baron Health Care Fund had to say about UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) in its Q1 2022 investor letter:

“UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is a leading diversified health and well- being company whose divisions include insurance arm UnitedHealthcare and Optum, which offers care delivery and other services. Shares increased on a fourth quarter beat and a reaffirmation of what is likely conservative guidance for 2022. We believe UnitedHealth leads the healthcare industry in innovation and execution, as evidenced by its strong value proposition leading to Medicare Advantage share gains, strong cost controls, and its leadership position in the shift to value-based care.”