UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:UNH, ETR:UNH) on Thursday reported the first results since the fatal shooting of Brian Thompson, the CEO of its insurance unit, in December, which shone a spotlight on the widespread ill-feeling towards the health insurance industry.
Results for the fourth quarter of 2024 beat Wall Street expectations on the profit line despite being shy of revenue forecasts.
Quarterly revenue of $100.8 billion, up 7% year-on-year, meant full-year revenues came to $400.3 billion, up 8% on a year earlier.
Fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $6.81 were up 10% and higher than Wall Street's consensus forecast of $6.72.
The company affirmed the 2025 outlook it first gave last month, where full-year revenues were guided to $450-455 billion, adjusted net EPS of $29.50 to $30.00 and cash flow from operations of $32 billion to $33 billion.
“The people of UnitedHealth Group remain focused on making high-quality, affordable health care more available to more people while making the health system easier to navigate for patients and providers, positioning us well for growth in 2025,” said CEO Andrew Witty.
Investors reacted by sending shares of UnitedHealth 4.5% lower on Thursday morning.