UnitedHealth posts quarterly profit above Wall Street estimates, on track for turnaround

UnitedHealth posts quarterly profit above Wall Street estimates, on track for turnaround By Amina Niasse Tue, April 21, 2026 at 10:35 AM EDT 4 min read UNH By Amina Niasse NEW YORK, April 21 (Reuters) - UnitedHealth raised its annual profit forecast and beat expectations for first-quarter results on Tuesday, and its shares jumped more than 10% as the company took steps toward its promised turnaround. UnitedHealth said it kept costs in check and received improved ‌government payments for its health insurance services, a sharp contrast to last May, when it pulled its financial outlook and dismissed the CEO as unexpected ‌medical services demand by members hurt profits. More from Yahoo Scout CEO Stephen Hemsley, who returned to lead the company almost a year ago, has sought to rebuild investor confidence and reassure employees after the killing of a senior ​executive in late 2024 led to an outpouring of criticism of health insurance practices. In the last year, it has exited non-U.S. businesses and some health plans, reshuffled leadership roles, and said on Tuesday it is spending $1.5 billion on artificial intelligence . "This was a solid quarter across all segments, positioning us for similarly solid progress going forward," Hemsley said. The results of the nation's largest health insurer also boosted shares of rivals, with CVS Health up more than 2% and Humana up 5%. "Shares are rallying, as investors recognize that margins may ‌have troughed in 2025, and 20…