Berkshire Buys the Dip on UnitedHealth Group Stock. Should You?
Buffett & Co. picked up UnitedHealth stock on the cheap, with the embattled blue chip one of the newest holdings in the Berkshire Hathaway equity portfolio.

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) is soaring out of the gate Friday after regulatory filings revealed Warren Buffett's holding company, Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B), initiated a stake in the beaten-down Dow Jones stock in the second quarter.
According to WhaleWisdom, Warren Buffett's holding company bought a little more than 5 million UNH shares between April 1 and June 30, accounting for 0.6% of the Berkshire Hathaway equity portfolio and making it the 18th-largest position.
The stake was worth a market value of $1.6 billion at the end of Q2.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Why did Buffett buy UnitedHealth stock?
It's been a rough stretch for UnitedHealth – both on and off the price charts. The country's largest health insurer has struggled with rising Medicare costs and a Department of Justice investigation into its billing practices.
The company also announced in May that its CEO, Andrew Witty, was stepping down. And in July, it gave a full-year outlook that came in well below what Wall Street was expecting.
"When we prepared our 2025 Medicare Advantage offerings back in the first half of 2024, we significantly underestimated the accelerating medical trend and did not modify benefits or plan offerings sufficiently to offset the pressures we are now experiencing," said UnitedHealthcare CEO Tim Noel on the company's earnings call.
And its share price has plummeted as a result. In the past 12 months, UNH shares have plunged 52%. And they're down 46% for the year to date through April 14 – making UnitedHealth the worst Dow Jones stock of 2025 so far.
And this may explain why UnitedHealth was one of the stocks Buffett bought in Q2. Following its recent slump, UNH's forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is now at 16.5 – below both its five-year average of 19.2, according to Morningstar, and the S&P 500's forward P/E ratio of 23.3.
And if there's one thing Warren Buffett loves, it's a bargain. Also working in UnitedHealth's favor is its fat 3.3% dividend yield, which, at the moment, is more than double the yield on the S&P 500.
Does this make UNH stock a buy?
Buffett & Co. are not the only ones on Wall Street that have signaled their confidence in the embattled blue chip stock.
Of the 26 analysts covering UnitedHealth Group who are tracked by S&P Global Market Intelligence, 13 say it's a Strong Buy, six call it a Buy, five have it at Hold and two rate it a Strong Sell. This works out to a consensus Buy recommendation.
Meanwhile, the average price target of $327.29 represents implied upside of more than 20% over the next 12 months or so. And the Street's loftiest target price on UNH of $626 is more than two times higher than the stock's current price.
Truist Securities analyst David MacDonald is one of those with a Buy rating on UNH.
"The company has several initiatives underway to drive improvement across segments," MacDonald wrote in a July 31 note, adding that he sees "opportunity around value-based care and broader margin improvement aided by further leveraging [of] automation/AI over time."
The analyst adds that "long-term execution" is key and that UnitedHealth Group's cash flow "should help drive balanced ongoing capital deployment while supporting corrective actions and investment in core capabilities and technology/efficiency."
Related content
- The Best Value Stocks to Buy
- What Set Warren Buffett Apart
- 5 of Warren Buffett's Best Investments
- 7 of Warren Buffett's Biggest Misses
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

With over a decade of experience writing about the stock market, Karee Venema is the senior investing editor at Kiplinger.com. She joined the publication in April 2021 after 10 years of working as an investing writer and columnist at a local investment research firm. In her previous role, Karee focused primarily on options trading, as well as technical, fundamental and sentiment analysis.
-
What One Widow's Ordeal Teaches Us About Marriage and Money
A man charmed a 72-year-old widow into marriage, and then her accounts were seized to pay off his debts, highlighting the importance of background checks on potential spouses as well as prenuptial agreements.
-
Are You Getting a Gray Divorce? These Six Financial Strategies Come From a Financial Planner
Managing an equitable division of assets, selling a home, negotiating alimony and splitting retirement accounts are among the money matters that weigh as heavily as emotional issues.
-
What One Widow's Ordeal Teaches Us About Marriage and Money
A man charmed a 72-year-old widow into marriage, and then her accounts were seized to pay off his debts, highlighting the importance of background checks on potential spouses as well as prenuptial agreements.
-
Are You Getting a Gray Divorce? These Six Financial Strategies Come From a Financial Planner
Managing an equitable division of assets, selling a home, negotiating alimony and splitting retirement accounts are among the money matters that weigh as heavily as emotional issues.
-
Stocks Climb as Apple, Nvidia Soar: Stock Market Today
Oracle joined in on the fun, too, after the software giant announced a C-suite shake-up.
-
How to Navigate Your Finances After Losing Your Spouse: Thoughts From a Financial Planner
It's important you get involved in financial planning now so you're prepared and confident to make decisions when you potentially become your own financial manager.
-
The Tax Trap Snares Many Business Owners: A Financial Pro's Guide to 11 Strategies You May Be Missing
Poor tax planning means many business owners are leaving money on the table for the IRS. This detailed guide from a financial adviser highlights strategies you may not be aware of.
-
The 'Ted Lasso' Effect: A Positive Outlook Really Can Strengthen Your Retirement Plan
Optimism like that of the fictional soccer coach can surprisingly improve your retirement planning by encouraging better saving habits and a more positive outlook on your financial future.
-
Your Golden Years Just Got a Tax Break, But There's a Catch
Don't fall for the 'tax-free Social Security' headlines. The OBBB offers a temporary tax deduction for certain retirees, which is different from eliminating taxes on benefits entirely — and it doesn't solve Social Security's long-term funding issues.
-
I'm a Retirement Coach: Eight Surprising Signs You're Ready to Retire
You've met your savings goal, your friends are having fun without you, your boss is mean to you, and your kids are grown and gone. What are you waiting for?