Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in UNH usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 12 extraordinary options activities for UnitedHealth Group. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 16% leaning bullish and 33% bearish. Among these notable options, 4 are puts, totaling $227,372, and 8 are calls, amounting to $964,227.
What's The Price Target?
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $430.0 to $540.0 for UnitedHealth Group over the last 3 months.
Volume & Open Interest Development
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of UnitedHealth Group stands at 632.73, with a total volume reaching 222.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in UnitedHealth Group, situated within the strike price corridor from $430.0 to $540.0, throughout the last 30 days.
UnitedHealth Group Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview
Significant Options Trades Detected:
| Symbol | PUT/CALL | Trade Type | Sentiment | Exp. Date | Ask | Bid | Price | Strike Price | Total Trade Price | Open Interest | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNH | CALL | TRADE | NEUTRAL | 01/16/26 | $66.1 | $62.5 | $64.0 | $490.00 | $294.4K | 87 | 0 |
| UNH | CALL | SWEEP | NEUTRAL | 06/20/25 | $59.95 | $58.45 | $59.95 | $470.00 | $257.3K | 355 | 0 |
| UNH | CALL | TRADE | BEARISH | 07/19/24 | $7.5 | $7.0 | $7.05 | $500.00 | $105.7K | 1.9K | 163 |
| UNH | CALL | SWEEP | NEUTRAL | 06/21/24 | $22.9 | $17.95 | $20.96 | $460.00 | $105.2K | 73 | 0 |
| UNH | CALL | SWEEP | NEUTRAL | 12/19/25 | $41.2 | $40.15 | $40.15 | $540.00 | $88.5K | 42 | 0 |
About UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealth Group is one of the largest private health insurers, providing medical benefits to about 53 million members globally, including 5 million outside the U.S. as of mid-2023. As a leader in employer-sponsored, self-directed, and government-backed insurance plans, UnitedHealth has obtained massive scale in managed care. Along with its insurance assets, UnitedHealth's continued investments in its Optum franchises have created a healthcare services colossus that spans everything from medical and pharmaceutical benefits to providing outpatient care and analytics to both affiliated and third-party customers.
Having examined the options trading patterns of UnitedHealth Group, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
Present Market Standing of UnitedHealth Group
- With a volume of 1,134,303, the price of UNH is down -0.04% at $480.87.
- RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching oversold.
- Next earnings are expected to be released in 26 days.
Expert Opinions on UnitedHealth Group
Over the past month, 3 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $582.3333333333334.
- An analyst from JP Morgan persists with their Overweight rating on UnitedHealth Group, maintaining a target price of $559.
- An analyst from Cantor Fitzgerald downgraded its action to Overweight with a price target of $591.
- An analyst from Baird has revised its rating downward to Outperform, adjusting the price target to $597.
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest UnitedHealth Group options trades with real-time alerts from Benzinga Pro.