NEW YORK, Feb 13, 2026, 12:01 EST — Regular session
- UnitedHealth shares were higher in midday trade as investors leaned into healthcare
- Managed-care stocks moved together after fresh warnings on Medicare Advantage plan ratings
- U.S. policy signals on 2027 reimbursement remain the next big swing factor
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated stock was up about 1.3% at $288.14 in midday trade on Friday. The shares have swung between $283.41 and $291.41 so far, with nearly 4 million shares traded.
Healthcare stocks were among the areas propping up a shaky tape after softer U.S. inflation data, even as a technology-led pullback kept the main indexes under pressure. “The trend in disinflation continues,” Michael Metcalfe, head of market strategy at State Street Markets, said. (Reuters)
Insurers are under a microscope after Humana on Wednesday forecast 2026 profit below Wall Street estimates, saying lower quality “star ratings” for its Medicare Advantage plans would cut bonus payments from the government. Medicare Advantage is the privately run version of Medicare for older Americans. Morningstar analyst Julie Utterback said “the big increase in membership looks likely to cut into margins further than the market was anticipating.” (Reuters)
Other managed-care names also traded higher on Friday: Humana was up about 1.7%, Elevance gained 2.3%, Cigna added 1.5%, and CVS Health rose 0.8%.
UnitedHealth is the sector heavyweight, and investors often use it as a proxy for how margins in government-backed plans are trending.
In late January, UnitedHealth said 2025 revenue rose 12% to $447.6 billion and set a 2026 revenue outlook of more than $439.0 billion, alongside adjusted earnings guidance of more than $17.75 per share. (Unitedhealthgroup)
It also warned medical costs have been running high, with its medical care ratio — the percentage of premiums spent on medical care — rising to 88.9% in 2025. The company forecast the ratio at about 88.8% in 2026 as it reprices its book, including in Medicaid, and the sector was hit in late January when CMS proposed an average 0.09% rise in 2027 Medicare Advantage rates. (Reuters)
But the recovery story still depends on Washington’s payment math and on whether medical use cools off. If claims stay hot, insurers can see earnings pressure quickly, even if the stock is being bought on a defensive bid.
For UnitedHealth, Friday’s bounce is another test of whether investors are willing to buy the dips in managed care ahead of the next Medicare Advantage rate decision.
CMS is taking comments on its 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D payment proposal through Feb. 25 and said the final rate announcement will be published no later than April 6. (Cms)
