UnitedHealth Group Reports 2025 Results and Issues 2026 Outlook

• Full Year 2025 Revenues of $447.6 Billion Grew 12% Year-Over-Year; Earnings of $13.23 Per Share; Adjusted Earnings of $16.35 Per Share
• Full Year 2026 Revenue Outlook Greater Than $439.0 Billion; Earnings Outlook Greater Than $17.10 Per Share; Adjusted Earnings Greater Than $17.75 Per Share

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–(BUSINESS WIRE)–UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) today reported full year and fourth quarter 2025 results and issued its 2026 outlook.

“We confronted challenges directly and finished 2025 as a much stronger company, giving us the momentum to better serve those who count on us and continue to improve our core performance,” said Stephen Hemsley, chief executive officer of UnitedHealth Group.

Consolidated revenues for 2025 were $447.6 billion, representing 12% growth year-over-year. Earnings from operations were $19.0 billion and net margin was 2.7%, while cash flows from operations were $19.7 billion, or 1.5x net income. The 2026 outlook was set for more than $439.0 billion in revenues, with earnings from operations greater than $24.0 billion and an adjusted earnings outlook greater than $17.75 per share.

2025 Key Performance Metrics

• UnitedHealthcare, which served 49.8 million consumers in 2025, grew revenues 16% to $344.9 billion.
• Optum expanded revenues 7% to $270.6 billion and supported more than 123 million consumers across its businesses.
• Full year and fourth quarter 2025 net earnings were $13.23 and $0.01 per share.
• Full year and fourth quarter 2025 adjusted net earnings were $16.35 and $2.11 per share.
• The reported medical care ratio of 89.1% included a 20 basis point negative impact from loss contracts included in the charge, resulting in an adjusted medical care ratio of 88.9%, or an increase of 340 basis points year-over-year.
• The operating cost ratio of 13.3% included a negative 40 basis points impact from the one-time charge, resulting in an adjusted operating cost ratio of 12.9%, which was flat year-over-year.

In the last six months of 2025, the company laid the foundation for more disciplined and transparent operations, stronger performance and sustained growth throughout 2026 and beyond.

Key elements in the company’s mission-focused progress in the second half of 2025 have included:

• Re-focusing on key markets, products and geographies.
• Aligning pricing discipline to account for higher medical trends and the impact of health care policy changes.
• Re-baselining operations at Optum, including new leaders who have refocused and strengthened the commitment to integrated value-based care.

The company has taken steps to enhance its transparency, including releasing the results of its first independent reviews of business practices, with additional reviews and actions under way.

The company completed wide-ranging actions that were included in a fourth quarter charge of $1.6 billion net of taxes, or $1.78 per share. The impacts were largely non-cash and were excluded from adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per share. The charge consisted of the following:

UnitedHealth Group 2025 Results

• UnitedHealth Group’s full year 2025 revenues grew $47.3 billion, or 12% year-over-year, to $447.6 billion.
• Full year 2025 earnings from operations of $19.0 billion included the impact of a $2.8 billion charge. This charge reflected the final direct costs associated with cyberattack-related activities, divestitures and business exits, and broader restructuring and other actions including loss contract assessments, real estate rationalization and workforce reductions. The impacts were excluded from adjusted earnings from operations of $21.7 billion.
• The full year 2025 adjusted medical care ratio was 88.9% compared to 85.5% in 2024. The year-over-year increase reflects previously disclosed factors, CMS’s Medicare funding reductions and changes from the Inflation Reduction Act combined with accelerating medical cost trends. Medical reserve development was $140 million favorable for full year 2025.
• Days claims payable were 44.1 compared to 46.2 in third quarter 2025 and 47.0 at year end 2024. The decline reflected expected impacts from the Inflation Reduction Act on the Part D program of approximately four days year-over-year and the sequential decline was driven by claims payment timing. Days sales outstanding of 18.8 compared to 18.6 in third quarter 2025 and 20.7 in the year ago quarter.
• The full year 2025 adjusted operating cost ratio of 12.9% compared to 12.9% in 2024, reflecting operating efficiencies and investments to drive future growth.
• Cash flows from operations for the full year were $19.7 billion, or 1.5 times net income, and were higher than anticipated, largely due to the timing of cash flows, including payments received in 2025 that were expected in 2026.
• Debt-to-capital ratio was 43.9% as of December 31, 2025, compared to 44.1% in the third quarter 2025 and 43.9% at year end 2024. The company continues to target a long-term debt-to-capital ratio of 40.0% and expects to reach that level in 2026.

UnitedHealthcare 2025 Results

UnitedHealthcare provides health care benefits to individuals and employers, as well as Government Program beneficiaries. UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to improving the value customers and consumers receive by improving health and wellness, enhancing the quality of care received, simplifying the health care experience and reducing the total cost of care.

UnitedHealthcare

• UnitedHealthcare full year 2025 revenues of $344.9 billion increased $46.7 billion or 16% year-over-year. UnitedHealthcare served 49.8 million people in 2025, an increase of 415,000 year-over-year.
• UnitedHealthcare’s full year 2025 earnings from operations were $9.4 billion compared to $15.6 billion in 2024. Operating margin of 2.7% compared to 5.2% in 2024, primarily due to the effects of the Biden-era Medicare funding reductions and Inflation Reduction Act impacts combined with elevated medical cost trends.

UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual

• UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual full year 2025 revenues were $79.2 billion compared to $78.2 billion in 2024.
• The number of people served decreased by 80,000 year-over-year, with growth in employer self-funded offerings more than offset by attrition in both group fully-insured and individual products.

UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement

• UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement full year 2025 revenues of $171.3 billion grew $31.8 billion, or 23%, year-over-year due to growth in the number of people served and the effects of the Inflation Reduction Act Part D impacts.
• Total growth for people served through Medicare Advantage, including programs serving complex populations included in Medicaid, was 755,000 in 2025.

UnitedHealthcare Community & State

• UnitedHealthcare Community & State full year 2025 revenues of $94.4 billion grew 17% year-over-year, driven by growth in serving people with complex needs and Medicaid rate increases.
• People served contracted by 55,000 in 2025 largely due to the early impact of state eligibility changes.

Optum 2025 Results

The Optum businesses serve the health care ecosystem, including payers, care providers, employers, governments, life sciences companies and consumers. Using market-leading information, analytics and technology to yield clinical insights, Optum helps improve overall health system performance by optimizing care quality, reducing care costs and improving the consumer experience.

Optum Health

• Optum Health’s full year 2025 revenues of $102.0 billion were down 3% year-over-year.
• Full year 2025 earnings from operations were $(278) million compared to $7.8 billion in 2024. Adjusted earnings from operations were $2.3 billion in 2025 compared to $7.9 billion in 2024. The year-over-year decline was driven by continued reimbursement pressure due to Medicare funding reductions and elevated medical cost trends.

Optum Insight

• Optum Insight’s full year 2025 revenues of $19.4 billion were up 4%, or $660 million, year-over-year.
• Full year 2025 earnings from operations were $2.6 billion compared to $3.1 billion in 2024. Adjusted earnings from operations in 2025 were $3.7 billion and $4.4 billion a year ago. The 2025 results were impacted by costs related to new product launches and continued investments to support future growth.

Optum Rx

• Optum Rx’s full year 2025 revenues of $154.7 billion increased 16% year-over-year driven by growth in pharmacy services and volume growth from new and existing clients.
• Earnings from operations for full year 2025 were $7.2 billion compared to $5.8 billion in 2024. Adjusted earnings from operations in 2025 were $6.1 billion compared to $5.8 billion a year ago. The increase year-over-year was primarily due to growth in both script volume and pharmacy services, as well as operating efficiencies. Adjusted scripts grew to 1.66 billion, up from 1.62 billion last year.

2026 Guidance

• Full Year 2026 Revenue Outlook Greater Than $439.0 Billion
• Earnings from Operations Greater Than $24.0 Billion; Operating Margin of 5.5%
• Earnings Outlook Greater Than $17.10 Per Share; Adjusted Earnings Greater Than $17.75 Per Share
• Cash Flows from Operations Expected to be Greater Than $18.0 Billion

UnitedHealth Group’s 2026 outlook is rooted in extensive actions it has taken in the past six months, including renewed operating disciplines and deeper commitment to its mission of helping people live healthier lives and helping the health system work better for everybody.

“UnitedHealth Group’s 2026 outlook reflects a business delivering durable performance improvement and margin expansion through greater operating discipline and precise execution,” said Wayne DeVeydt, chief financial officer of UnitedHealth Group.

The outlook reflects margin stability and growth across all four operating segments as the company continues to execute its long-term strategy.

Among the expectations:

• 2026 revenues are projected to exceed $439.0 billion, a 2% year-over-year decline reflecting planned right-sizing across the enterprise.
• Earnings from operations greater than $24.0 billion and a net margin of ~3.6%, improving from 2025 net margin of 2.7%.
• Consolidated medical care ratio is expected to be 88.8% +/- 50 basis points, improving 30 basis points from the 2025 medical care ratio of 89.1% and reflective of repricing efforts across the enterprise.
• Operating cost ratio is expected to be 12.8% +/- 50 basis points, reflecting a 10 basis point improvement from the 2025 adjusted operating cost ratio, supported by disciplined cost management and benefits from ongoing productivity initiatives.
• Adjusted earnings per share expected to be greater than $17.75.

The company will continue to embrace new technologies and artificial intelligence to help make high-quality care easier to find, simpler to navigate, and most importantly, more accessible and affordable.

2026 Key Performance Expectations

• UnitedHealthcare revenues of more than $335.0 billion reflect fewer consumers served, with membership expected to range between 46.9 million to 47.5 million.
• Optum revenues of more than $257.5 billion reflect the corresponding membership attrition in Optum Rx and the strategic right-sizing of Optum Health.
• UnitedHealthcare earnings from operations of greater than $10.8 billion reflect a ~3.2% margin, or ~40 basis points of margin improvement compared to 2025 adjusted earnings margin of 2.8%.
• Optum earnings from operations are expected to be greater than $13.2 billion, or a margin of ~5.1% compared to 2025 margin of 3.5%. Excluding the impact of loss contracts in Optum Health, Optum’s 2026 adjusted operating earnings margin is ~4.9%, or an increase of ~40 basis points year-over-year.

Data Elements 2026 Outlook

UnitedHealthcare 2026 Outlook

Optum 2026 Outlook

Below outlines the 2025 Reported and Adjusted Earnings from Operations, as well as the recast earnings for the reclassification of Optum Financial Services from Optum Health into Optum Insight. 2026 Earnings Guidance assumes Optum Financial Services is classified in Optum Insight and removed from Optum Health guidance.

About UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a health care and well-being company with a mission to help people live healthier lives and help make the health system work better for everyone through two distinct and complementary businesses. Optum delivers care aided by technology and data, empowering people, partners and providers with the guidance and tools they need to achieve better health. UnitedHealthcare offers a full range of health benefits, enabling affordable coverage, simplifying the health care experience and delivering access to high-quality care. Visit UnitedHealth Group at www.unitedhealthgroup.com and follow UnitedHealth Group on LinkedIn.

Earnings Conference Call

As previously announced, UnitedHealth Group will discuss the company’s results, strategy and future outlook on a conference call with investors at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time today. UnitedHealth Group will host a live webcast of this conference call from the Investor Relations page of the company’s website (www.unitedhealthgroup.com). Following the call, a webcast replay will be on the Investor Relations page through February 10, 2026. This earnings release and the Form 8-K dated January 27, 2026, can also be accessed from the Investor Relations page of the company’s website.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

This news release presents non-GAAP financial information provided as a complement to the results provided in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial information to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is provided in the accompanying tables found at the end of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements, estimates, projections, guidance or outlook contained in this document include “forward-looking” statements which are intended to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions of the federal securities laws. The words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “plan,” “project,” “should” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These statements may contain information about financial prospects, economic conditions and trends and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those that management expects, depending on the outcome of certain factors including: our ability to effectively estimate, price for and manage medical costs; new or changes in existing health care laws or regulations, or their enforcement or application; cyberattacks, other privacy/data security incidents, or our failure to comply with related regulations; reductions in revenue or delays to cash flows received under government programs; changes in Medicare, the CMS star ratings program or the application of risk adjustment data validation audits; the DOJ’s legal actions concerning our participation in the Medicare program; our ability to maintain and achieve improvement in quality scores impacting revenue; failure to maintain effective and efficient information systems or if our technology products do not operate as intended; risks and uncertainties associated with our businesses providing pharmacy care services; competitive pressures, including our ability to maintain or increase our market share; changes in or challenges to our public sector contract awards; failure to achieve targeted operating cost productivity improvements; failure to develop and maintain satisfactory relationships with health care payers, physicians, hospitals and other service providers; the impact of potential changes in tax laws and regulations; increases in costs and other liabilities associated with litigation, government investigations, audits or reviews; risks and uncertainties associated with our increasing use of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies; failure to complete, manage or integrate strategic transactions; risks and uncertainties associated with the sale of our remaining operations in South America; risks associated with public health crises arising from large-scale medical emergencies, pandemics, natural disasters and other extreme events; failure to attract, develop, retain, and manage the succession of key employees and executives; our investment portfolio performance; impairment of our goodwill and intangible assets; failure to protect proprietary rights to our databases, software and related products; downgrades in our credit ratings; and our ability to obtain sufficient funds from our regulated subsidiaries or from external financings to fund our obligations, reinvest in our business, maintain our debt to total capital ratio at targeted levels, maintain our quarterly dividend payment cycle, or continue repurchasing shares of our common stock.

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