
NYSE:UNH
Rebounded strongly from lows. Q1 results calmed fears, back into growth mode. Biggest growth area is Medicare, which is for seniors, paid for by government. Moving into a stronger pricing environment for Medicare. Trading at 17x for 15% earnings growth over next 3-4 years. Yield is 1.4%.
Will gain market share over time. It's a scale game. The lower-cost producers will win at the end of the day.
Behemoth. Long-term demographics makes this a name you want to hold. Shares trending flat for the last couple of years. 200-day MA is sideways at this point, and shares are slightly below that point. Yield is 1.5%, nothing fantastic, but likes it long term.
Earnings should continue to grow, about 12% growth right now. Not a lot of strong competitors in the space. In healthcare, money has gone into the growthier names like LLY and NVO.
From a thematic standpoint, his firm is about a 1/3 weight in healthcare, so pretty underweight. Across the group, there are a few specific pharma companies, like LLY, that are really knocking the cover off the vault. And a bunch not doing so well.
Biotech and medical devices have been sort of sloppy. Now there's trouble with some of the managed-care companies. In general, even though the XLV price is moving higher, relative strength vs. the rest of the market has been hitting YTD lows. Underperforming sector. Better places to focus right now.
Down 6% in Q1, hurt by higher medical costs (like Humana) as the biggest health insurer in the US. Then after the bell today, the government limited increases in the health insurers' policies. The February data in health hack didn't help. But UNH has a good chance of a bounce back in the next two days.
Great company. He owns ELV, trades at 4-5 multiple points lower, fundamentals are equally good.
Whole group has stalled a bit over medical cost ratios and medical costs in general. Government is repricing programs, and it's affecting margins. Companies will fight through it, trading inexpensively, very solid growth metrics. Not afraid to buy any of them, and his choice is ELV.
The stock has been flat, but at current share prices he's been adding. UNH is the giant of US healthcare. Now is a great entry point. Trades at 18x PE. Can deliver 8-10% topline growth and around 8-9% bottom line. They have a great track record. They participate in Medicare Advantage with a 20% market share.
Will continue to own shares. Short term pressures not a concern. Investors should take a long term view. Deferred procedures have started to increase after Covid-19. Profits continue to increase as demand for healthcare rises. Aging population also good for the business.