UnitedHealth (UNH) Shares Decline Following Berkshire Hathaway Exit, Reuters Reports

Vardah Gill

Mon, May 18, 2026 at 5:22 PM EDT 2 min read

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) is included among the 10 Best “Dogs of the Dow” Stocks to Buy for the Rest of 2026.

On May 18, Reuters reported that shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) dropped more than 2% on Monday after Berkshire Hathaway revealed it had sold its stake in the healthcare giant as part of a first-quarter portfolio reshuffle led by CEO Greg Abel.

Berkshire’s investment in UnitedHealth had attracted attention last August when the company disclosed it bought 5 million shares. At the time, the move boosted investor confidence, with many viewing it as a vote of confidence in the company’s turnaround efforts under CEO Stephen Hemsley. That position is now gone. On May 15, Berkshire confirmed it had exited its investment in the health insurer.

Separately, on May 13, Bank of America analyst Kevin Fischbeck raised the firm’s price recommendation on UNH to $420 from $380. It reiterated a Neutral rating on the shares. The analyst said conversations with the company’s leadership team at the BofA Healthcare Conference carried a “bullish” tone. Management indicated that it believes the company can return to at least the low end of its target margins across most of its businesses by 2028.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) operates across several healthcare and wellness businesses, including Optum Health, Optum Insight, Optum Rx, and UnitedHealthcare. Its insurance operations span employer and individual plans, Medicare and retirement services, and community and state programs.

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