UnitedHealth raises 2026 profit outlook after Q3 results
UnitedHealth Group reported third-quarter 2026 revenue of $112.7 billion and operating earnings of $6.6 billion on October 13. Adjusted earnings were $4.69 per share, while the medical spending ratio was 88.4% and the operating expense ratio was 12.8%. The company lifted its full-year 2026 adjusted earnings outlook to at least $20.50 per share.
Why it matters
The higher earnings floor changes UnitedHealth's full-year profit outlook and gives investors updated cost and margin data for assessing the insurer's performance. UnitedHealthcare reported $86.3 billion of revenue and Optum reported $66.9 billion, providing visibility into the two main operating segments.
Key facts
- 1Third-quarter 2026 revenue was $112.7 billion, compared with $113.2 billion in the year-earlier quarter. marketscreener.com
- 2Third-quarter operating earnings were $6.6 billion, versus $4.3 billion a year earlier. marketscreener.com
- 3Adjusted third-quarter earnings were $4.69 per share. marketscreener.com
- 4The medical care ratio was 88.4%, compared with 89.9% in the third quarter of 2025. marketscreener.com
- 5UnitedHealth raised its full-year 2026 adjusted net earnings outlook to at least $20.50 per share. marketscreener.com
- 6UnitedHealth repurchased $5.0 billion of common stock and paid $6.2 billion in dividends year-to-date. marketscreener.com
Open questions
- Material 17's summary presents the current and prior-year revenue and operating-earnings figures in the opposite order from the detailed results in material 18.
Summary written by AlphAI AI Desk from 20 of 96 sources. Not investment advice. Figures are as stated by the linked sources.