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Jun 4, 2026 4:00 PM

Why Is UnitedHealth Stock Gaining Thursday?

Insurance giant UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH) stock is surging on Thursday. Over the last six months, the stock has gained almost 20%.

Bank of America Securities (BofA) on Thursday upgraded UnitedHealth from Neutral to Buy and raised the price forecast from $420 to $450.

The stock came under pressure in January as investors reacted to a proposed near-flat Medicare Advantage rate update from federal regulators and digested UnitedHealth’s fourth-quarter 2025 earnings and fiscal 2026 outlook.

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Medicare Advantage Rate Changes Shift Investor Sentiment

In January, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposed a net average payment increase of just 0.09% for Medicare Advantage plans, well below industry expectations of 4% to 6%. The proposal was expected to generate only about $700 million in additional payments for insurers.

Investor sentiment improved sharply in April after regulators finalized the ...