(Updated to include BofA's commentary)
BofA Securities upgraded UnitedHealth (UNH) to buy from neutral as medical cost trends improvement and "supportive" near-term data points form a favorable Q2.
If utilization trends continue to moderate, the brokerage believes the company-given its bellwether status-should lead a broader MCO rally, analysts led by Kevin Fischbeck wrote in a Thursday note.
UnitedHealth has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of $404.44, according to analysts polled by FactSet.
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Price: $399.70, Change: $+22.70, Percent Change: +6.02%