(Reuters) -UnitedHealth Group reported a fourth-quarter profit on Thursday that beat analysts’ estimates due to strength in its health services unit, but missed estimates for quarterly sales.
The earnings report comes a month after Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth’s insurance unit was killed, igniting a conversation over frustrations related to navigating the U.S. health insurance system.
UnitedHealth reported a full-year medical cost ratio — the percentage of premiums spent on medical care — of 85.5%, compared with the average analyst estimate of 84.96%, according to data compiled by LSEG.
On an adjusted basis, the company earned $6.81 per share in the fourth quarter, compared with estimates of $6.72 per share.
(Reporting by Sriparna Roy and Bhanvi Satija in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)
