MINNETONKA, MINNESOTA (AP) — UnitedHealth Group boosted its full-year outlook for a second time this year after a surprisingly strong second quarter despite sustained, elevated spending tied to the pandemic.
The country’s largest United States (US) health insurer earned USD4.27 billion, or USD4.46 per share. Adjusted for one-time gains and costs, per-share earning were USD4.70, far better than the USD4.41 that Wall Street had been projecting, according to a survey of industry analysts by Zacks Investment Research.
It’s still below the USD6.64 billion, or USD6.91 per share, the company earned in the same three-month period last year, which ended on June 30. Those three months were an extraordinary stretch with so many people calling off visits to the doctor’s office, elective surgery, and other non-emergency visits due the pandemic.
The return of those patients after a successful vaccination programme in the US has added more medical costs for insurers like UnitedHealth. Executives with the Minnetonka, Minnesota, company said they expect to feel most of that impact during the second half of this year.
Quarterly revenue reached USD71.32 billion, topping the USD69.22 billion that Wall Street was calling for, thanks in part to double-digit percentage growth at Optum and UnitedHealthcare.
UnitedHealth now foresees full-year adjusted earnings in a range of USD18.30 to USD18.80 per share. In April the company raised its forecast to USD18.10 to USD18.60 per share, up from an outlook of USD17.75 to USD18.25 per share that it debuted in December.
The guidance accounts for approximately USD1.80 per share in potential net unfavourable COVID-19 costs.
Analysts polled by FactSet predict full-year earnings of USD18.57 per share.
Shares of UnitedHealth Group Inc are flat before the opening bell on Thursday.
