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CI vs UNH
Which Stock Would AI Choose? The Cigna Group (CI) vs. UnitedHealth Group (UNH) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- The Cigna Group (CI) trades at a lower trailing P/E ratio of 12.63 compared to UnitedHealth Group (UNH)'s 24.45, suggesting potential value in CI.
- UNH boasts a significantly larger market capitalization of $293.6 billion versus CI's $74.8 billion, reflecting greater scale.
- Recent quarterly earnings for UNH exceeded expectations with raised 2026 guidance, providing positive momentum, while CI reaffirmed its outlook amid share price weakness.
- Both stocks show modest YTD gains around 1-2%, but UNH has stronger one-year returns at 26.76% versus CI's 13.42%.
- CI exhibits lower volatility with a beta of 0.27, compared to UNH's 0.41 (beta measures stock sensitivity to market movements).
- Analyst sentiment includes upgrades for CI and top pick status for UNH.
Introduction
This comparison examines CI and UNH, two leading players in the U.S. health insurance and services sector. As managed care providers navigating regulatory pressures, Medicare dynamics, and pharmacy benefit management (PBM) scrutiny, their performances offer insights for value-oriented investors seeking stability and growth traders eyeing momentum. With both stocks trading below 52-week highs amid broader market positioning, this analysis highlights relative strengths in valuation, recent catalysts, and sector exposure to aid informed decision-making in the current environment.
CI Overview and Recent Performance
The Cigna Group (CI) operates as a global health company, focusing on employer-sponsored health plans, government programs, and its Evernorth Health Services division, which includes PBM operations. In recent market activity, CI shares have experienced weakness, trading around $280 after retreating from a 52-week high of $350. This pullback follows solid fourth-quarter 2025 results with revenue up 11% to $274.9 billion and adjusted earnings guidance reaffirmed at least $30.25 per share for 2026. Sentiment has been influenced by leadership changes, PBM rebate model shifts, and analyst upgrades like Bernstein's bullish stance, amid ongoing sector headwinds such as regulatory reviews.
UNH Overview and Recent Performance
UnitedHealth Group (UNH), the largest U.S. health insurer by market cap, delivers integrated care through its UnitedHealthcare insurance arm and Optum health services. Shares recently traded near $323, down from a 52-week high of $439 but rebounding on first-quarter 2026 earnings that beat estimates, prompting raised profit outlooks for the year. Earlier in the period, performance faced pressure from Medicare Advantage cost pressures and membership shifts, contributing to YTD gains of just 1.25%. Positive developments include analyst endorsements as a top pick and revenue growth projections exceeding $439 billion for 2026, bolstering recent sentiment.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
While both CI and UNH compete in managed care, UNH's vertically integrated model via Optum provides broader growth drivers in services and data analytics, contrasting CI's emphasis on PBM efficiency through Evernorth. Valuation favors CI with a lower P/E and dividend yield, but UNH leads in scale and revenue trajectory. Recent momentum tilts to UNH post-earnings, versus CI's steadier but softer trend. Risks include PBM regulations for both, with UNH more exposed to Medicare Advantage volatility. Market sentiment reflects UNH's catalysts outweighing CI's value appeal in recent weeks.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron's AI tools currently lean toward UNH based on superior recent earnings momentum, reaffirmed growth outlook, and relative positioning above key supports. Factors like trend consistency and fresh catalysts provide probabilistic edge over CI's attractive valuation amid ongoing recovery. This assessment draws from observable patterns rather than guarantees.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is CI is a Hold and UNH is a Hold.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
CI’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileUNH’s FA Score has 3 green FA rating(s).
- CI’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- UNH’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
CI’s TA Score shows that 3 TA indicator(s) are bullish while UNH’s TA Score has 3 bullish TA indicator(s).
- CI’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 5 bearish.
- UNH’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
CI (@Managed Health Care) experienced а -4.00% price change this week, while UNH (@Managed Health Care) price change was -1.06% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Managed Health Care industry was +0.72%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +14.43%, and the average quarterly price growth was +37.57%.
Reported Earning Dates
CI is expected to report earnings on Jul 30, 2026.
UNH is expected to report earnings on Jul 16, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Managed Health Care (+0.72% weekly)Managed healthcare industry focuses on providing health/medical and disability insurance plans, generally intended to reduce the cost of for-profit health care. The insurance products might be provided through employer-paid (fully or partly) insurance and benefit programs, or through Medicare/Medicaid. Some of the largest providers of managed health care include Aetna, Humana Inc., and Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare.
| CI | UNH | CI / UNH | |
| Capitalization | 74.9B | 372B | 20% |
| EBITDA | 12.1B | 22.8B | 53% |
| Gain YTD | 3.651 | 24.862 | 15% |
| P/E Ratio | 11.96 | 30.62 | 39% |
| Revenue | 268B | 450B | 60% |
| Total Cash | 7.8B | N/A | - |
| Total Debt | 30.9B | 77.9B | 40% |
CI | UNH | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 62 | 82 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 5 Undervalued | 6 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 74 | 93 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 56 | 64 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 57 | 14 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 81 | 7 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | n/a |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
CI's Valuation (5) in the Managed Health Care industry is in the same range as UNH (6). This means that CI’s stock grew similarly to UNH’s over the last 12 months.
CI's Profit vs Risk Rating (74) in the Managed Health Care industry is in the same range as UNH (93). This means that CI’s stock grew similarly to UNH’s over the last 12 months.
CI's SMR Rating (56) in the Managed Health Care industry is in the same range as UNH (64). This means that CI’s stock grew similarly to UNH’s over the last 12 months.
UNH's Price Growth Rating (14) in the Managed Health Care industry is somewhat better than the same rating for CI (57). This means that UNH’s stock grew somewhat faster than CI’s over the last 12 months.
UNH's P/E Growth Rating (7) in the Managed Health Care industry is significantly better than the same rating for CI (81). This means that UNH’s stock grew significantly faster than CI’s over the last 12 months.
| CI | UNH | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | N/A | 2 days ago 54% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 72% | 2 days ago 67% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 54% | 2 days ago 59% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 57% | 2 days ago 61% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 53% | 2 days ago 54% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 50% | 2 days ago 51% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 14 days ago 63% | 2 days ago 54% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 55% | 7 days ago 55% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | N/A | 2 days ago 57% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 43% | 2 days ago 45% |
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CI and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, CI has been loosely correlated with CVS. These tickers have moved in lockstep 49% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if CI jumps, then CVS could also see price increases.
UNH and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, UNH has been loosely correlated with ELV. These tickers have moved in lockstep 64% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if UNH jumps, then ELV could also see price increases.