What's Going On With UnitedHealth Stock?

UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:UNH) shares have declined 5.3% over the past week as the company faces a significant legal challenge to its $3.3 billion acquisition of Amedisys Inc (NASDAQ:AMED).

What To Know: The U.S. Justice Department, along with attorneys general from multiple states, has recently filed a lawsuit to block the deal, citing antitrust concerns in the home health services sector.

The agency argues the merger could lead to higher healthcare costs, particularly as Amedisys is a direct competitor to UnitedHealth’s LHC Group, which was acquired for $5.4 billion in 2022.

The Justice Department contends that allowing the merger would tighten UnitedHealth’s control over the home health and hospice care market, potentially disadvantaging seniors and caregivers.

In response, UnitedHealth and Amedisys have proposed selling assets to VitalCaring Group to address these concerns, but negotiations have yet to alleviate regulatory resistance.

UnitedHealth's Optum unit has actively defended the merger, emphasizing the fragmented nature of the home healthcare industry and its potential to address the growing demand for elder care as the U.S. population ages. However, skepticism persists as analysts and regulators scrutinize the impact on market competition.

Read Also: Grant Cardone Calls Himself A ‘Coward Investor,’ Puts His Money In ‘Real Assets’

How To Buy UNH Stock

Besides going to a brokerage platform to purchase a share – or fractional share – of stock, you can also gain access to shares either by buying an exchange traded fund (ETF) that holds the stock itself, or by allocating yourself to a strategy in your 401(k) that would seek to acquire shares in a mutual fund or other instrument.

For example, in UnitedHealth Group’s case, it is in the Health Care sector. An ETF will likely hold shares in many liquid and large companies that help track that sector, allowing an investor to gain exposure to the trends within that segment.

According to data from Benzinga Pro, UNH has a 52-week high of $630.73 and a 52-week low of $436.38.