UnitedHealth Q4 Profit Rises, Results Top Estimates; Backs FY14 Outlook

(RTTNews) - Health insurer UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH) reported that its fourth-quarter net earnings attributable to common shareholders increased to $1.43 billion or $1.41 per share, from $1.24 billion or $1.20 per share in the same quarter last year. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report earnings of $1.40 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Revenues for the quarter rose to $31.12 billion from $28.77 billion in the prior year quarter. Nineteen analysts had consensus revenue estimate of $31.06 billion for the quarter.

The company continues to estimate 2014 revenues of $128 billion to $129 billion and net earnings in the range of $5.40 to $5.60 per share. Street currently is looking for fiscal year 2014 earnings of $5.62 per share on annual revenues of $131.27 billion.