UNH insider sales flash a warning sign ahead of earningsUnitedHealth Group has had an incredibly strong showing this year, and right now it's priced pretty attractively at oversold level on the hourly chart. On its daily chart it's at RSI 38, nearing oversold (RSI 30) but not quite there yet. It also hasn't yet tested its August low of 220.78 or its one-year lows of 208.07 and 216.84. I suspect we'll get a bounce tomorrow from the hourly oversold level, then fall some more to the 216-220 range. At that point we should be about oversold on the daily chart and should bounce into earnings on October 15.
The average analyst price target on UNH is about 299, implying about 33% upside from the current price. Analyst estimates of UNH earnings have held steady for the past month at 3.77, significantly better than 3.41 the same quarter last year. UNH has an 8.7/10 Equity Starmine Summary Score rating. So most signs are bullish. However, company director Richard Burke sold 10,000 shares last week. Other directors also recently sold thousands of shares. All this insider selling doesn't inspire confidence for good earnings this quarter. On that basis alone, I don't think I'd hold this for anything more than a pre-earnings bounce. On the other hand, insider sellers may be responding to political risk rather than to the company's financials.
The healthcare sector is expected to report good earnings this quarter, which could make it attractive as a defensive play in an earnings recession. Healthcare is a defensive sector that usually does well when the rest of the market is down. Right now healthcare stocks are cheap, which makes them even more attractive. However, with Elizabeth Warren leading the Democratic pack, UNH's share price may continue its breakdown. Health insurance and pharmaceutical companies are at particular risk from Warren's "Medicare for All" plan, and you may be able to chart healthcare stocks' performance from now until the election as a function of Warren's popularity in the polls.
