Advertisement
ELV vs UNH
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Elevance Health (ELV) vs. UnitedHealth Group (UNH) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Elevance Health (ELV) and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) are leading managed care providers in the U.S. healthcare sector, with UNH demonstrating stronger year-to-date (YTD) total return of approximately 31% compared to ELV's 21% as of early July 2026.
- Both stocks trade near their 52-week highs amid sector recovery, though ELV faces an anticipated 30% year-over-year decline in second-quarter earnings per share (EPS) while UNH anticipates EPS growth.
- Analyst price target upgrades have been more frequent for ELV in recent weeks, reflecting easing regulatory concerns over Medicare Advantage compliance, whereas UNH has seen consistent momentum from operational efficiencies and AI initiatives.
- UNH's diversified model, including its Optum services segment, provides broader revenue stability compared to ELV's primary focus on health insurance plans.
- Relative performance in recent market activity favors UNH's scale and growth trajectory, though both face similar sector risks including medical cost pressures and regulatory oversight.
- Upcoming earnings releases—ELV on July 15 and UNH on July 16—represent key near-term catalysts for sentiment shifts.
Introduction
Elevance Health (ELV) and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) represent two of the largest players in the U.S. managed care industry, offering health insurance plans and related services to millions of members. Investors and traders often compare these stocks to assess relative positioning within the healthcare sector, particularly amid evolving reimbursement rates, regulatory developments, and cost management trends. This analysis appeals to institutional and retail participants seeking data-driven insights into business model differences, recent price behavior, and market sentiment. The comparison highlights trade-offs in growth drivers, risk exposure, and performance metrics without favoring either security.
Elevance Health (ELV) Overview and Recent Performance
Elevance Health, Inc. operates as a major health benefits company, providing medical, dental, vision, and pharmacy coverage primarily through commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid segments. In recent weeks, the stock has traded near the upper end of its 52-week range, closing around $416–$419 amid broader market activity. Performance has been supported by Q1 2026 results that showed revenue growth and share repurchases, alongside analyst upgrades following progress on Medicare Advantage regulatory matters. However, expectations for a notable EPS decline in the upcoming second-quarter report have tempered sentiment. The company reaffirmed full-year guidance earlier in the period, contributing to stability despite sector headwinds.
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) Overview and Recent Performance
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated delivers health insurance through its UnitedHealthcare division and diversified services via Optum, encompassing pharmacy benefits management, data analytics, and care delivery. Recent market activity has shown the stock advancing to levels near its 52-week high, with YTD gains outpacing broader benchmarks. Momentum stems from Q1 earnings that prompted raised 2026 guidance, operational improvements, and a $1.5 billion commitment to artificial intelligence initiatives. While facing typical managed care pressures, the company has benefited from positive analyst commentary and dividend increases, supporting resilience in recent trading sessions.
Trending AI Robots
Tickeron maintains a curated Trending AI Robots section on its platform, featuring select AI trading bots from a library of hundreds that execute strategies across thousands of tickers. Only those demonstrating strong alignment with prevailing market conditions, consistent performance metrics, and suitable risk profiles earn placement in this trending list. Available bots span diverse styles, timeframes, and ticker universes, with historical statistics often showing win rates ranging from 55% to over 70% and varying drawdown levels depending on the strategy. This section provides traders with transparent access to backtested results and live signals. For additional details on current trending options, visit the Trending AI Robots page.
Head-to-Head Comparison
In business model terms, UNH benefits from greater diversification through its Optum segment, which generates revenue beyond traditional insurance premiums, while ELV maintains a more concentrated focus on health plan administration. Growth drivers differ as UNH emphasizes technology investments and scale efficiencies, contrasting with ELV's emphasis on membership expansion and regulatory navigation. Recent momentum has favored UNH's stronger YTD total return amid earnings upgrades, whereas ELV has seen targeted analyst support tied to compliance progress. Risk factors include shared exposure to medical loss ratios and policy changes, though UNH's larger market capitalization may offer relative stability. Sector sentiment remains constructive for both amid healthcare demand, with trade-offs centered on ELV's potentially lower valuation multiples versus UNH's proven earnings consistency.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable trend consistency and relative positioning, Tickeron’s AI models would currently assign a higher probabilistic preference to UnitedHealth Group (UNH) due to its superior year-to-date performance, diversified revenue streams, and positive earnings momentum. ELV shows promise from recent regulatory relief and analyst target increases but faces nearer-term EPS pressure. This assessment reflects pattern recognition across historical data and does not constitute investment advice.
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.
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 ELV is a Buy and UNH is a Buy.
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).
ELV’s FA Score shows that 3 FA rating(s) are green whileUNH’s FA Score has 3 green FA rating(s).
- ELV’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 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.
ELV’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while UNH’s TA Score has 3 bullish TA indicator(s).
- ELV’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
- UNH’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
ELV (@Managed Health Care) experienced а -0.40% price change this week, while UNH (@Managed Health Care) price change was -0.17% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Managed Health Care industry was +0.83%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +7.45%, and the average quarterly price growth was +35.30%.
Reported Earning Dates
ELV is expected to report earnings on Jul 15, 2026.
UNH is expected to report earnings on Jul 16, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Managed Health Care (+0.83% 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.
| ELV | UNH | ELV / UNH | |
| Capitalization | 92.3B | 390B | 24% |
| EBITDA | N/A | 22.8B | - |
| Gain YTD | 22.531 | 31.743 | 71% |
| P/E Ratio | 18.02 | 32.31 | 56% |
| Revenue | 200B | 450B | 44% |
| Total Cash | N/A | N/A | - |
| Total Debt | 31.8B | 77.9B | 41% |
ELV | UNH | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 50 | 50 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 7 Undervalued | 6 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 84 | 88 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 98 | 64 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 18 | 9 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 26 | 6 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
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.
UNH's Valuation (6) in the Managed Health Care industry is in the same range as ELV (7). This means that UNH’s stock grew similarly to ELV’s over the last 12 months.
ELV's Profit vs Risk Rating (84) in the Managed Health Care industry is in the same range as UNH (88). This means that ELV’s stock grew similarly to UNH’s over the last 12 months.
UNH's SMR Rating (64) in the Managed Health Care industry is somewhat better than the same rating for ELV (98). This means that UNH’s stock grew somewhat faster than ELV’s over the last 12 months.
UNH's Price Growth Rating (9) in the Managed Health Care industry is in the same range as ELV (18). This means that UNH’s stock grew similarly to ELV’s over the last 12 months.
UNH's P/E Growth Rating (6) in the Managed Health Care industry is in the same range as ELV (26). This means that UNH’s stock grew similarly to ELV’s over the last 12 months.
| ELV | UNH | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 67% | 4 days ago 56% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 53% | 4 days ago 59% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 65% | 4 days ago 55% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 65% | 4 days ago 68% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 58% | 4 days ago 57% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 56% | 4 days ago 52% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 12 days ago 56% | 18 days ago 54% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 14 days ago 56% | 8 days ago 54% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 64% | 4 days ago 56% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 56% | 4 days ago 46% |
Advertisement
ELV and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, ELV has been loosely correlated with UNH. These tickers have moved in lockstep 64% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if ELV jumps, then UNH 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.