Unknown Billionaire Phill Gross’ 10 Stock Picks with Huge Upside Potential

4. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders as of Q4: 150

Adage Capital Management’s Equity Stake: $461.15 Million 

Upside Potential as of May 2: 41.01%

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH), based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is a prominent American multinational company that operates in the health insurance and healthcare services sectors. It conducts its insurance operations under the UnitedHealthcare brand and provides healthcare services through its Optum division. Known for its historical stability and conservative financial forecasting, the company has long been a bellwether in the healthcare sector. However, in the March 2025 quarter, UnitedHealth posted adjusted earnings of $7.20 per share, falling short of analyst expectations of $7.29 per share. This marked its first earnings miss since 2008 and came as a shock to investors, raising concerns across the entire health insurance sector.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) attributed the miss to higher-than-anticipated medical costs, driven by a sharp increase in demand for physician and outpatient services, particularly among patients enrolled in government-backed Medicare plans. This surge, which began in mid-2023, has strained the insurance industry-wide, but UnitedHealth was particularly affected due to its reliance on the Optum Health unit, which oversees services such as Medicare prescription drug plans. Complicating matters further were changes in reimbursement structures stemming from government policy adjustments under the Biden administration, which reduced funding for Medicare Advantage programs. According to CEO Andrew Witty, these funding cuts, combined with unanticipated shifts in the health needs and engagement levels of new patients, resulted in reimbursement rates that did not accurately reflect the actual health status of the insured populations.

In response to the operational challenges facing its Optum division, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) announced a leadership change to steer the segment through this volatile period. On April 30, the company appointed Dr. Patrick Conway as the new Chief Executive Officer of Optum, effective May 6. Conway will take over from Heather Cianfrocco, who has been promoted to serve as UnitedHealth Group’s Executive Vice President of Governance, Compliance, and Information Security. The leadership transition signals UnitedHealth’s commitment to strengthening oversight and adjusting its strategies within Optum to better manage cost structures, patient engagement, and government reimbursements. As UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) navigates these headwinds, its ability to recalibrate its services and forecasts will be critical to regaining investor confidence and stabilizing its financial trajectory.