Shares of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) staged a sharp rebound on Friday, just days after two members of Congress disclosed timely purchases in the struggling health insurer.
To this end, UnitedHealth ended the last session at $304.01, up nearly 12% on the day and 20% for the week.
The rally was fueled by a regulatory filing showing Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) had acquired roughly 5 million shares of UnitedHealth last quarter, a stake worth about $1.57 billion.
Congress UNH stock buys
Looking at recent trades, some members of Congress suspiciously bought UNH just before the rally.
Notably, Representative Tim Moore of North Carolina disclosed two purchases of UnitedHealth shares on July 21, valued between $1,001 and $15,000. Moore filed his disclosures on August 5, and since his entry, the stock has gained about 7%.
Moore’s trades are raising eyebrows given his position as vice chair of the Subcommittee on Financial Oversight and Investigation. UnitedHealth is heavily exposed to Medicaid, a sector hit hard this year after Congress approved steep funding cuts through the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’.
The lawmaker is also involved in ongoing probes into potentially fraudulent Medicaid billing practices, prompting speculation that his investments may have been influenced by non-public information.
Meanwhile, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, another notorious trader, reported her UnitedHealth purchase on August 4 in the $1,001 to $15,000 range. She disclosed the Congress trade on August 15, and her bet has already paid off, with shares rising more than 25% since her buy.
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UnitedHealth stock fundamentals
UnitedHealth has faced mounting challenges in recent months, such as leadership changes and suspension of financial guidance.
At the same time, the company is cooperating with federal criminal and civil investigations tied to its Medicare Advantage business, including allegations of inflated billing practices.
Despite these headwinds, UnitedHealth remains the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, covering more than 8 million people, while its Optum division continues to expand in care and technology services.
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