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Asia Markets

US Equity Indexes Fall as Vance's Trip to Pakistan on Hold Ahead of Iran Ceasefire Deadline

US equity indexes fell on Tuesday, while crude oil futures jumped as President Donald Trump reportedly extended the Iran ceasefire deal until Tehran submits a "unified proposal" to end the war.The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.3% to 24,334.81, with the S&P 500 down 0.6% to 7,064.01 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lower by 0.6% to 49,149.38. All three gauges traded higher earlier in the session. All sectors except energy fell. Real estate, utilities, and industrials led the decliners.Trump said he has extended the ceasefire until Tehran submits a proposal to end the conflict permanently, CNN reported late Tuesday. The ceasefire was due to expire on Wednesday evening ET. Trump said he will continue the US blockade of Iranian ports.Trump said the extension was warranted as Tehran's government is "seriously fractured," CNBC reported.Vice President JD Vance was set to leave Tuesday morning for Pakistan, the expected location for the US-Iran talks, but his trip has been put on hold, CNN reported. The US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has contributed to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding a second round of talks, CNN cited sources as saying.West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures climbed 2.8% to $92.13, and Brent crude futures advanced 1.6% to $96.98.Most US Treasury yields rose, with the 10-year up 4.8 basis points to 4.3% and the two-year climbed 6.9 basis points to 3.79%.Gold futures declined 2.3% to $4,718.1 and silver futures dropped 4.7% to $76.28.In economic news, US retail sales rose 1.7% in March, above the 1.4% increase expected in a Bloomberg-compiled survey and following the previous month's revised 0.7% gain. Removing both motor vehicles and a 15.5% surge in gasoline station sales, retail sales were up 0.6% in March, the same as in February.Pending home sales rose by 1.5% in March, above the 0.5% increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following a 2.5% increase in February, according to the National Association of Realtors. The monthly sales index was down 1.1% from March 2025.In company news, UnitedHealth Group (UNH) raised its full-year earnings outlook on Tuesday, as the health insurance giant recorded an unexpected annual increase in its Q1 results. Shares jumped 7%, among the top gainers on the S&P 500 and the Dow.D.R. Horton's (DHI) fiscal Q2 results came in better than expected, although the homebuilder tempered its full-year revenue outlook. Shares advanced 5.8%, among the S&P 500's outperformers.Moody's (MCO) said Tuesday that it is deepening its partnership with Microsoft (MSFT) by embedding its credit intelligence into Microsoft 365 Copilot and other AI-driven enterprise tools, expanding its presence across financial workflows. Shares of Microsoft rose 1.5%, among the Dow's leaders.Apple (AAPL) shares fell 2.5%, among the Dow's laggards, a day after the company said that Tim Cook will become executive chairman after a nearly 15-year stint as chief executive officer, effective Sept 1.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$DHI$MCO$MSFT$UNH
Research

Research Alert: CFRA Maintains Hold Rating On Shares Of Unitedhealth Group Inc.

CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:We raise our 12-month price target to $385 from $335, 21.1x our 2026 EPS estimate (up to $18.25 from $17.86; 2027 estimate up $0.02 to $20.12), a small premium to UNH's five-year historical forward average of 20.3x, justified by our expectations of steady earnings improvement in the near term from the company's turnaround efforts. UNH's share repurchase activity (at least $2B anticipated by the end of Q2) supported a Q1 EPS beat, and management signaled further buybacks ahead, as the share price remains over 40% below all-time highs in late 2024 despite an over 35% rally since March 27. We expect medical cost trends will remain elevated in the near term despite some improvement in comparable results (MCR of 83.9% vs. 84.8% in Q1 2025). Though consolidated operating margin dipped to ~8.1% from 8.3% in the prior-year quarter, we note an encouraging 40 bps of margin expansion for the UnitedHealthcare (insurance) segment to 6.6% in Q1.

$UNH
Sectors

Sector Update: Health Care Stocks Softer Late Afternoon

Health care stocks declined late Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index down 1% and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) shedding 0.9%.The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) decreased 1%.In corporate news, Passage Bio (PASG) faces a tougher path after US regulators told the company it will need to run a randomized study to support approval of its experimental treatment PBFT02, a move that adds time, cost, and uncertainty, Wedbush said Tuesday in a report. Wedbush downgraded Passage Bio's stock to neutral from outperform and cut its price target to $8 from $32. Passage Bio shares dropped 2.9%.Merck (MRK) and Japanese health care company Eisai said Tuesday that phase 3 trials of two drug combinations failed to meet primary endpoints of progression-free survival and overall survival as a first-line treatment of patients with advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma compared with Keytruda plus Lenvima. Merck shares fell 3.7%.UnitedHealth Group (UNH) raised its full-year earnings outlook on Tuesday as the health insurance giant recorded an unexpected annual increase in its first-quarter results. Its shares jumped past 7%.Quest Diagnostics (DGX) shares popped more than 4% after it reported higher Q1 adjusted earnings and net revenue and raised its 2026 outlook.

$DGX$MRK$PASG$UNH
US Markets

Equities Fall Intraday, Oil Jumps Amid Uncertainty Around US-Iran Talks

US benchmark equity indexes were lower intraday, while oil prices rose amid uncertainty around the prospects of a fresh round of negotiations between Washington and Iran.The S&P 500 was down 0.4% at 7,084.3 after midday Tuesday, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.3% to 24,337.3. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 0.2% to 49,339.2. Barring energy and consumer discretionary, all sectors were in the red, led by real estate.West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 4.7% at $93.80 per barrel, while Brent rose 4.2% to $99.52.The blockade of the crucial Strait of Hormuz by the US has contributed to the ongoing uncertainty around a second round of discussions between Washington and Iran, as the deadline for a recently announced ceasefire looms, CNN reported Tuesday, citing sources. US Vice President JD Vance, who was expected to leave for Pakistan earlier in the day, was still in Washington for meetings, unnamed sources told the news outlet.The US is "going to end up with a great deal" with Iran to end the war, CNBC reported, citing President Donald Trump. He reportedly doesn't expect to extend the ceasefire due to expire Wednesday.US Treasury yields were higher intraday, with the 10-year rate up 4.4 basis points at 4.29% and the two-year rate rising 6.3 basis point to 3.78%.In economic news, US retail sales last month logged the largest rise since March 2025 amid a surge in spending at gasoline stations as the Middle East conflict boosted energy prices, official data showed."We expected that the headline (figure) would be gaudy due to the increase in gas prices and a pickup in unit auto sales, but the strength in other categories was surprising," Jefferies said in a note. "There is no evidence here that higher gasoline prices have motivated the consumer to tighten the belt elsewhere just yet."US pending home sales increased more than expected in March despite higher mortgage rates, data from the National Association of Realtors showed."Contract signings rose in March despite higher mortgage rates, pointing to pent-up housing demand," NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said. "A greater supply of inventory will help translate that demand into more home sales."In company news, Apple (AAPL) shares were down 2.6%, among the worst performers on the Dow. The iPhone maker said late Monday that Tim Cook will step down as chief executive and become executive chairman, with hardware engineering veteran John Ternus set to succeed him as CEO.Tractor Supply (TSCO) shares tumbled nearly 11% intraday Tuesday, the steepest decline on the S&P 500. The retailer logged first-quarter results that missed Wall Street's projections amid a below-average performance of its companion animal product business.UnitedHealth Group (UNH) raised its full-year earnings outlook, as the health insurance giant recorded an unexpected annual increase in its first-quarter results. The company's shares were up 8.9%, the biggest gainer on the S&P 500 and the Dow.D.R. Horton's (DHI) fiscal second-quarter results came in better than expected, though the homebuilder tempered its full-year revenue outlook. The company's shares jumped 7.2%, among the best performers on the S&P 500.Gold was down 2.1% at $4,730 per troy ounce, while silver dropped 4.1% to $76.74 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$DHI$TSCO$UNH
Sectors

Sector Update: Health Care Stocks Softer Tuesday Afternoon

Health care stocks declined Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index down 1.1% and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) shedding 0.7%.The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) decreased 0.7%.In corporate news, Merck (MRK) and Japanese health care company Eisai said Tuesday that phase 3 trials of two drug combinations failed to meet primary endpoints of progression-free survival and overall survival as a first-line treatment of patients with advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma compared with Keytruda plus Lenvima. Merck shares fell 3.9%.UnitedHealth Group (UNH) raised its full-year earnings outlook on Tuesday as the health insurance giant recorded an unexpected annual increase in its first-quarter results. Its shares jumped past 8%.Quest Diagnostics (DGX) shares popped 4% after it reported higher Q1 adjusted earnings and net revenue and raised its 2026 outlook.

$DGX$MRK$UNH
Sectors

Sector Update: Health Care

Health care stocks declined Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) each shedding 0.9%.The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) fell 1%.In corporate news, UnitedHealth Group (UNH) raised its full-year earnings outlook on Tuesday as the health insurance giant recorded an unexpected annual increase in its first-quarter results. Its shares jumped past 8%.

$UNH
Wire

Top Midday Gainers

Electro-Sensors (ELSE) agreed to be acquired by steute Technologies for $7.75 a share, a premium of about 75% to the closing price on Monday.The stock surged 72% as intraday volume topped 361,700 shares versus the daily average of 2,909.UnitedHealth Group (UNH) raised its full-year earnings outlook after the health insurance giant recorded an unexpected increase in Q1 results.The stock rose 8.4% as volume topped 17.6 million shares versus the daily average of 10 million.Aevex's (AVEX) director Brian Raduenz purchased 50,000 shares of the company for $1 million on April 16.The stock advanced 7.5% as volume topped 4.5 million shares versus the daily average of 15.8 million.Price: $7.62, Change: $+3.19, Percent Change: +72.16%

$AVEX$ELSE$UNH
Asia Markets

US Equity Indexes Slip as Investors Await Fate of Iran Peace Talks in Pakistan

US equity indexes gave up intraday gains as crude oil futures gathered momentum after midday Tuesday, amid a fast-approaching deadline for Washington and Tehran to find a deal in the second round of talks in Pakistan.The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.3% to 24,339.8, with the S&P 500 down 0.3% to 7,087.2 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lower by 0.2% to 49,370.3. All three gauges traded higher earlier in the session alongside corporate results.All sectors except consumer discretionary and energy fell, with real estate and industrials leading the decliners.President Donald Trump told CNBC on Tuesday that he expects the US and Iran to make a "great deal," referring to the proposed second round of talks in Islamabad that Iran has yet to confirm it will attend. The president added, however, that the US military is "ready" to bomb Iran if a deal is not signed by the ceasefire deadline late Wednesday and that he does not want to extend it.Iran has told regional mediators it would send a negotiating team to Islamabad on Tuesday, people familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal. But Tehran hasn't publicly confirmed it will send representatives, and Iran's top negotiator said, "We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats."West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures climbed 4.3% to $93.50, and Brent crude futures advanced 2.8% to $98.17.Most US Treasury yields rose, with the 10-year up 4.8 basis points to 4.3% and the two-year climbing 6.5 basis points to 3.78%.Gold futures declined 1.1% to $4,775.6 and silver futures dropped 2.4% to $78.15.In economic news, US retail sales rose 1.7% in March, above the 1.4% increase expected in a Bloomberg-compiled survey and following the previous month's revised 0.7% gain. Removing both motor vehicles and a 15.5% surge in gasoline station sales, retail sales were up 0.6% in March, the same as in February.Pending home sales rose by 1.5% in March, above the 0.5% increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following a 2.5% increase in February, according to the National Association of Realtors. The monthly sales index was down 1.1% from March 2025.In company news, UnitedHealth Group (UNH) raised its full-year earnings outlook on Tuesday, as the health insurance giant recorded an unexpected annual increase in its Q1 results. Shares jumped 7.6%, the top gainer on the S&P 500 and the Dow.D.R. Horton's (DHI) fiscal Q2 results came in better than expected, although the homebuilder tempered its full-year revenue outlook. Shares advanced 7.1%, among the S&P 500's outperformers.Moody's (MCO) said Tuesday that it is deepening its partnership with Microsoft (MSFT) by embedding its credit intelligence into Microsoft 365 Copilot and other AI-driven enterprise tools, expanding its presence across financial workflows. Shares of Microsoft rose 1.4%, among the Dow's leaders.Apple (AAPL) shares fell 1.5%, among the Dow's laggards, a day after the company said that Tim Cook will become executive chairman after a nearly 15-year stint as chief executive officer, effective Sept 1.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$DHI$MCO$MSFT$UNH
Japan

US Equity Indexes Give Up Gains as Investors Await Fate of Iran Peace Talks

US equity indexes fell, giving up intraday gains, as crude oil futures gathered momentum in midday trading on Tuesday, with investors still awaiting confirmation from Iran that it will attend the second round of peace talks in Pakistan.The Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.1% to 24,380.8, with the S&P 500 down 0.2% to 7,097.6 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lower by 0.2% to 49,337.5. All three gauges traded higher earlier in the session amid the flow of quarterly results.President Donald Trump told CNBC on Tuesday that he expects the US and Iran to make a "great deal," referring to the proposed second round of talks in Islamabad that Iran has yet to confirm it will attend. The president added, however, that the US military is "ready" to bomb Iran if a deal is not signed by the ceasefire deadline Wednesday evening and that he does not want to extend it.West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures climbed 4.3% to $93.50, and Brent crude futures advanced 2.8% to $98.17.In company news, UnitedHealth Group (UNH) raised its full-year earnings outlook on Tuesday, as the health insurance giant recorded an unexpected annual increase in its Q1 results. Shares jumped 7.6%, the top gainer on the S&P 500 and the Dow.D.R. Horton's (DHI) fiscal Q2 results came in better than expected, although the homebuilder tempered its full-year revenue outlook. Shares advanced 7.1%, among the S&P 500's outperformers.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$DHI$UNH
Wire

Top Midday Stories: UnitedHealth Raises 2026 EPS Guidance, Shares Soar; Cook to Step Down as Apple CEO

The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 were down, while the Nasdaq Composite was up in late-morning trading Tuesday after President Donald Trump told CNBC earlier in the day that he expects the US and Iran to reach a deal before the ceasefire expires on Wednesday.In company news, UnitedHealth (UNH) reported Q1 adjusted earnings Tuesday of $7.23 per diluted share, up from $7.20 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus analyst estimate of $6.58. First-quarter revenue was $111.72 billion, up from $109.58 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $109.43 billion. For 2026, the company said it expects adjusted EPS of over $18.25, up from its prior guidance of $17.75 and above the FactSet consensus of $17.86. UnitedHealth shares were up 8.0% around midday.Apple (AAPL) said late Monday that Tim Cook will step down as chief executive and become executive chairman, effective Sept. 1. Current Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering John Ternus will succeed Cook as CEO, the company said. Apple shares were down 1.7%.Amazon (AMZN) said late Monday it will invest $5 billion in Anthropic and up to another $20 billion if certain commercial milestones are met in the future. Meanwhile, Anthropic said it's committed to spending over $100 billion over the next 10 years on Amazon Web Services technologies. Separately, Amazon said Tuesday it has launched a GLP-1 Management Program through Amazon One Medical that provides primary care, pharmacy services and virtual care options to help patients achieve and maintain their weight-loss goals. Amazon shares were up 1.8%.D.R. Horton (DHI) reported fiscal Q2 net income Tuesday of $2.24 per diluted share, down from $2.58 a year earlier but above the FactSet consensus of $2.13. Fiscal Q2 revenue was $7.56 billion, down from $7.73 billion a year ago but above the FactSet consensus of $7.55 billion. For fiscal 2026, the company said it now expects revenue of $33.50 billion to $34.50 billion, compared with its prior guidance of $33.50 billion to $35 billion. Analysts polled by FactSet expect $33.29 billion. D.R. Horton shares were up 7.5%.GE Aerospace (GE) reported Q1 adjusted earnings Tuesday of $1.86 per share, up from $1.49 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus of $1.60. First-quarter revenue was $11.61 billion, up from $9.94 billion a year ago and above the FactSet consensus of $10.71 billion. For 2026, the company maintained its adjusted EPS guidance range of $7.10 to $7.40, below the FactSet consensus of $7.49. GE shares were down 5.1%.Danaher (DHR) reported Q1 adjusted earnings Tuesday of $2.06 per diluted share, up from $1.88 a year earlier and above the FactSet consensus of $1.94. First-quarter sales were $5.95 billion, up from $5.74 billion a year ago but below the FactSet consensus of $5.98 billion. For Q2, the company said it expects non-GAAP core revenue to increase in the low single-digit percent range from the year prior. For full-year 2026, Danaher said it expects adjusted EPS of $8.35 to $8.55, compared with its prior guidance of $8.35 to $8.50 and the FactSet consensus of $8.40. Danaher shares were down 0.3%.Price: $347.72, Change: $+24.24, Percent Change: +7.49%

$AAPL$AMZN$DHI$DHR$GE$UNH
Sectors

Sector Update: Health Care Stocks Flat to Higher Premarket Tuesday

Health care stocks were flat to higher premarket Tuesday, with the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) inactive and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) up 0.8%.UnitedHealth Group (UNH) stock was up more than 8% after the company reported higher Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue, and increased its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance.Quest Diagnostics (DGX) stock was up more than 3% after the company reported higher Q1 adjusted earnings and net revenue, and raised its 2026 outlook.Danaher (DHR) shares were up 0.8% after the company posted higher Q1 adjusted earnings and sales, and lifted its 2026 adjusted diluted EPS outlook.

$DGX$DHR$IBB$UNH$XLV
Commodities

Exchange-Traded Funds, Equity Futures Higher Pre-Bell Tuesday Amid Second Round of US-Iran Talks

The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 0.2% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) advanced 0.3% in Tuesday's premarket activity, amid a second round of talks between the US and Iran.US stock futures were also higher, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.4%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures advancing 0.6%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.4% before the start of regular trading.The Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank's monthly non-manufacturing activity index rose to minus 16.5 in April from minus 23.9 in the previous month, compared with expectations for a small increase to a minus 19.8 reading in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:35 am ET, indicating a slower pace of contraction in the sector.US retail sales rose 1.7% in March, above expectations for a 1.4% increase and compared with a prior 0.7% gain.The pending home sales data for March and the business inventories data for February will be released at 10:00 am ET.Fed Governor Christopher Waller is slated to speak on Tuesday.In premarket action, bitcoin advanced by 0.4%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 0.5% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) retreated 0.2%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) declined by 0.3%.Power Play:Health CareThe State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) gained 0.8%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was 0.9% higher, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) rose 2%. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) advanced 0.02%.UnitedHealth (UNH) stock was up more than 7% premarket after the company reported higher Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue.Winners and Losers:FinancialThe State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advanced 0.4%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 1.2%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 0.8% lower.MSCI (MSCI) shares were up more than 4% pre-bell after the company reported higher Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue.TechnologyThe State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) advanced 0.3%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 0.6% higher, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was up 0.4%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) increased by 1.9%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rose by 1%.Onto Innovation (ONTO) shares were up more than 2% in Tuesday's premarket activity after the company said it plans for a $710 million equity investment in Rigaku to advance the so-called process control services for semiconductor manufacturing.ConsumerThe State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) retreated by 0.2% and the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was 0.3% lower. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was inactive. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) gained 0.9%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) was inactive, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) was 0.6% higher.D.R. Horton (DHI) shares were up more than 6% pre-bell after the company reported higher-than-expected fiscal Q2 net income and revenue.IndustrialThe State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) slipped by 0.1%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) retreated 0.2% and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was inactive.Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico (PAC) stock was down more than 1% before the opening bell after the company said its Q1 passenger traffic dropped by 5.5% year-over-year, even as its net income and revenue were higher.EnergyThe iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was up 0.1%, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was up by 0.2%.Shell (SHEL) stock was up 0.7% before the opening bell. Reuters reported, citing court documents, that the company faces a fresh lawsuit by a Dutch climate activist organization demanding it immediately end its investments in new oil and gas projects.CommoditiesFront-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil retreated by 0.4% to $89.29 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas declined by 0.8% to $2.67 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) increased by 0.9%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.4% higher.Gold futures for May were down by 0.4% to $4,812.10 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures retreated by 1.1% to $79.73 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was 0.4% lower, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) fell by 0.7%.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$BETH$BITO$DHI$EEM$EETH$EXI$FAS$FAZ$GLD$IBB$IGM$IGV$IPK$IVV$IWM$IYE$IYH$IYJ$IYK$IYW$MSCI$ONTO$PAC$PMR$QQQ$RTH$SHEL$SLV$SOXX$SPY$UNG$UNH$USO$VDC$VHT$VIS$XLE$XLF$XLI$XLK$XLP$XLV$XLY$XRT$XSD
US Markets

UnitedHealth Lifts 2026 Earnings Outlook as First-Quarter Results Unexpectedly Rise

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) raised its full-year earnings outlook on Tuesday as the health insurance giant recorded an unexpected annual increase in its first-quarter results.The company now anticipates adjusted earnings of more than $18.25 per share for 2026, up from its previous guidance of over $17.75. The current consensus on FactSet is for non-GAAP EPS of $17.86.The stock jumped 7.8% in the most recent premarket activity.The company posted adjusted EPS of $7.23 for the March quarter, up from $7.20 the year before, defying the Street's view for a decline to $6.58. Revenue climbed to $111.72 billion from $109.58 billion, compared with the average analyst estimate for a decrease to $109.43 billion.Revenue in the UnitedHealthcare segment, which provides health care benefits, including those covered under Medicare and Medicaid, grew to $86.27 billion from $84.62 billion in the prior-year quarter. The division served 49.1 million people in the quarter, compared with 49.8 million at the end of 2025.The Optum business, which serves the global health care marketplace, saw sales move down to $63.75 billion from $63.89 billion. Within the segment, Optum Insight and Optum Rx recorded revenue gains, while Optum Health decreased to $24.11 billion from $24.84 billion.UnitedHealth said its medical care ratio, which is used to measure medical costs as a percentage of premium revenue, declined to 83.9% from 84.8% in the prior-year period, driven by robust medical cost management and favorable reserve development, partially offset by "consistently elevated utilization and unit cost trends." A lower ratio generally signifies higher profitability.Earlier in the month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalized a proposal to raise payments to Medicare insurers by 2.48% on average next year."Overall, results were strong, as (UnitedHealth) appears poised to return to its consistent beat-and-raise ways," Oppenheimer said in a note. "We expect the stock to be strong on this release, which should also support the group."

$UNH
Sectors

Sector Update: Health Care

Health care stocks were flat to higher premarket Tuesday, with the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) inactive and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) up 0.9%.UnitedHealth Group (UNH) stock was up more than 7% after the company reported higher Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue, and increased its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance.

$UNH
Asia Markets

AI Optimism Lifts US Equity Futures Pre-Bell Amid Uncertainty of US-Iran Peace Talks

US equity futures were higher pre-bell on Tuesday as recent optimism on artificial intelligence and tech buoyed investor sentiment amid the uncertainty of a new round of negotiations between the US and Iran.Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.5% higher, S&P 500 futures were up 0.2%, and Nasdaq futures were 0.3% higher.JPMorgan Chase (JPM) boosted its year-end target for the S&P 500 index to 7,600, pointing to AI and tech-driven earnings, while Amazon (AMZN) said it planned to invest $5 billion in Claude AI chatbot creator Anthropic, with up to another $20 billion potentially available in the future if certain commercial milestones are met.President Donald Trump seems positive on the new round of peace talks happening, while Iran has said it will not negotiate "under the shadow of threat." The ceasefire between the two nations ends tomorrow.Traders took note of the latest round of earnings, with GE Aerospace (GE) and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) reporting higher Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue.Oil prices were slightly lower, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude down 0.2% at $95.20 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 0.7% lower at $88.95 per barrel.March retail sales rose 1.7% following an upwardly adjusted 0.7% gain in the prior month, above estimates compiled by Bloomberg of a 1.4% increase.The Senate Banking Committee hearing of Kevin Warsh for the Federal Reserve chair is scheduled at 10 am ET.In other world markets, Japan's Nikkei closed 0.9% higher, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 0.5% higher, and China's Shanghai Composite finished 0.1% higher. Meanwhile, the UK's FTSE 100 was down 0.2%, and Germany's DAX index was 0.4% higher in Europe's early afternoon session.In equities, Amazon stock was higher by 2.2% pre-bell. UnitedHealth shares rose 7.4% after the company's Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue surpassed analysts' consensus. Danaher (DHR) stock was up by 0.5% after posting Q1 adjusted earnings that beat analysts' estimates.On the losing side, Apple (AAPL) shares eased slightly by 0.7% after the company said Tim Cook plans to step down as chief executive and become executive chairman, with hardware engineering veteran John Ternus set to succeed him as CEO. 3M (MMM) stock was down by 3.7% despite the company's Q1 adjusted earnings and net sales surpassing analysts' consensus.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$AMZN$DHR$GE$JPM$MMM$UNH
Research

Research Alert: Unh: Q1 Results Top Estimates As Company Executes On Turnaround Strategy

CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:UnitedHealth Group's Q1 results show promise for the longer-term turnaround, in our view. Adjusted EPS of $7.23 beat consensus of $6.60, while revenues rose 2% to $111.7B despite membership attrition from portfolio adjustments. The quarter's standout metric was a 90 basis point improvement in medical cost ratio to 83.9%, which we view as supportive despite elevated utilization trends. The company raised 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to at least $18.25 from $17.75 previously, supported by favorable results and plans to repurchase at least $2B of shares by end of Q2. We look to the upcoming earnings call for management commentary on the Medicare Advantage 2027 rate ruling and Medicare Stars reform. Membership declines from ACA EPTC expiration and OBBBA Medicaid changes remain a key focus, and we expect further detail on cost trends and medical utilization to provide insight into margin expectations and turnaround timing.

$UNH
Japan

AI Optimism Buoys US Equity Futures Pre-Bell Amid Uncertainty of US-Iran Peace Talks

US equity futures were higher pre-bell on Tuesday as recent optimism on artificial intelligence and tech buoyed investor sentiment amid the uncertainty of a second round of talks between the US and Iran.Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.7% higher, S&P 500 futures were up 0.5%, and Nasdaq futures were 0.5% higher.JPMorgan Chase (JPM) boosted its year-end target for the S&P 500 index to 7,600, pointing to AI and tech-driven earnings, while Amazon (AMZN) said it planned to invest $5 billion in Claude AI chatbot creator Anthropic, with up to another $20 billion potentially available in the future if certain commercial milestones are met.President Donald Trump seems positive on the new round of peace talks happening, while Iran has said they will not negotiate "under the shadow of threat." The ceasefire between the two nations ends tomorrow.Traders took note of the latest round of earnings, with GE Aerospace (GE) and UnitedHealth Group (UNH) reporting higher Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue.Oil prices were mostly flat, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude down 0.2% at $95.30 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 0.2% higher at $87.60 per barrel.The March retail sales report, due at 830 am ET, is forecast to show a 1.4% increase following a 0.6% gain in the previous month, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg.The Senate Banking Committee hearing of Kevin Warsh for the Federal Reserve chair is scheduled at 10 am ET.

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US Markets

Stocks Rise Pre-Bell as Traders Weigh Uncertainty Over US-Iran Talks

US equity futures were pointing higher on Tuesday as traders monitor uncertainty over a potential fresh round of talks between the US and Iran and await the latest batch of corporate earnings.The S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.2% each in premarket activity, while the Nasdaq added 0.3%. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq finished the previous trading session lower, with the latter snapping a 13-day winning streak, while the Dow was little changed.President Donald Trump said Vice President JD Vance is ready to leave for Pakistan for a second round of peace talks with Iran, according to a Bloomberg report. Iran, however, hasn't publicly confirmed if any representative from its side will participate in the latest proposed negotiations."We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats, and in the past two weeks, we have prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield," Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in a Monday post on X. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a social media post that the country still has "deep historical mistrust" towards the US government's conduct.Trump said Monday that the US is not likely to extend its current ceasefire with Iran if a deal isn't agreed, Bloomberg News reported. The ceasefire is set to expire "Wednesday evening Washington time," Trump reportedly said."I'm not going to be rushed into making a bad deal," Trump said in a phone interview, according to Bloomberg. "We've got all the time in the world."The US-Iran ceasefire may be extended by up to two weeks, though it will take much longer to hammer out a complete peace agreement, Macquarie Group said in a note on Monday.West Texas Intermediate crude oil declined 1.2% to $88.55 a barrel before the opening bell, while Brent decreased 0.9% to $86.68."Oil prices are being whipsawed by developments in the Middle East once again, with what appears to be de-escalation quickly turning to re-escalation," ING Bank said in a Monday report.Treasury yields were moving upwards in premarket action, with the two-year rate gaining 2.1 basis points to 3.74% and the 10-year rate edging 0.6 basis points higher to 4.26%.GE Aerospace (GE), UnitedHealth (UNH), Danaher (DHR), Northrop Grumman (NOC), 3M (MMM), D.R. Horton (DHI), Tractor Supply (TSCO) and Genuine Parts (GPC) are scheduled to report their latest financial results before the bell, among others.Shares of Amazon.com (AMZN) inclined 2.7% pre-bell after the e-commerce giant said it will invest $5 billion in artificial intelligence startup Anthropic and up to another $20 billion in the future if certain commercial milestones are met.Apple (AAPL) nudged 0.3% lower after the iPhone maker announced that Tim Cook will step down as chief executive and become executive chairman, with hardware engineering veteran John Ternus set to succeed him as CEO. Alaska Air (ALK) fell 2.9% after reporting its latest quarterly results.Tuesday's economic calendar has the retail sales report for March at 8:30 am ET, followed by the pending home sales index for the same month at 10 am.Federal Reserve Chair nominee Kevin Warsh's hearing before the Senate Banking committee is slated for 10 am. Fed Governor Christopher Waller is expected to speak at 2:30 pm.Gold slipped 0.6% to $4,801 per troy ounce, while bitcoin traded up 0.4% at $76,575.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$AAPL$ALK$AMZN$DHI$DHR$GE$GPC$MMM$NOC$TSCO$UNH
US Markets

Nasdaq, S&P 500 Fall From Record Highs Amid Iran War Uncertainty; Oil Jumps

The Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 fell from record highs, while oil prices climbed as traders tracked an apparent re-escalation in the Middle East conflict.The Nasdaq dropped 0.3% to 24,404.4 after a 13-day winning streak that propelled the index to fresh peaks. The S&P 500 declined 0.2% to 7,109.1. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was little changed at 49,442.6.Six of the 11 sectors were in the green, led by materials, while communication services saw the steepest drop.West Texas Intermediate crude oil was last up 5.6% at $88.58 per barrel, while Brent advanced 5.1% to $94.98.Iran took back control of the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday after opening the waterway to commercial vessels on Friday. The US and Iran have accused each other of violating a two-week ceasefire announced April 7.The US Navy on Sunday seized an Iranian-flagged vessel that tried to move past a naval blockade, President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post."Oil prices are being whipsawed by developments in the Middle East once again, with what appears to be de-escalation quickly turning to re-escalation," ING Bank said in a report.The US is sending its negotiating team to Pakistan for a second round of peace talks, and while Iran has publicly said it doesn't plan to participate, Bloomberg News reported that Iran will be sending its delegation to Islamabad.The ceasefire with Iran ends "Wednesday evening Washington time," Trump told Bloomberg News. He said it's "highly unlikely" he would extend the two-week truce.The US-Iran ceasefire may be extended by up to two weeks, though it will take much longer to hammer out a complete peace agreement, Macquarie Group said in a note on Monday.US Treasury yields were mixed, with the 10-year rate little changed at 4.26% and the two-year rate rising 1.7 basis point to 3.73%.Some 46 S&P 500 companies have so far reported their latest quarterly financial results in the current cycle, with earnings and sales up around 32% and 13% year over year, respectively, Oppenheimer Asset Management said in a report. Ahead of the reporting season, FactSet put expected earnings growth at 12.6% from a year earlier, according to the brokerage."It's too early to draw conclusions about first-quarter results, but the quarter appears to be off to a good start," Oppenheimer Asset Management Chief Investment Strategist John Stoltzfus said.About 94 S&P 500 companies are scheduled to release their quarterly financials this week, according the brokerage. Those include Tesla (TSLA), Intel (INTC), IBM (IBM), Texas Instruments (TXN), Philip Morris International (PM), Procter & Gamble (PG), GE Aerospace (GE), UnitedHealth Group (UNH), and RTX (RTX).In company news, QXO (QXO) has agreed to acquire insulation products company TopBuild (BLD) in a cash-and-stock deal worth roughly $17 billion, the companies said Sunday. QXO shares fell 3.1%, while TopBuild surged 19%.Sila Realty Trust (SILA) agreed to be acquired and taken private by certain affiliates of Blue Owl Capital's (OWL) real estate unit in an all-cash deal worth roughly $2.4 billion. Sila Realty shares jumped 19%, while Blue Owl rose 0.4%.Gold was last down 1% at $4,832.10 per troy ounce, while silver dropped 2.5% to $79.81 per ounce.

Dow JonesNasdaq CompositeS&P 500$BLD$GE$IBM$INTC$OWL$PG$PM$QXO$RTX$SILA$TSLA$TXN$UNH
Wire

UnitedHealth Group Launches National Rural Healthcare Expansion Initiatives

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) said Monday it launched national rural healthcare expansion initiatives to help lower costs, simplify paperwork, alleviate staffing shortage, and improve access to quality care.The initiatives are expected to help independent rural hospitals improve cash flow and financial stability, the company said.The initiatives will speed payments by up to 50% for around 1,500 rural and critical access hospitals and exempt rural providers from most medical prior authorization requirements, according to the company.UnitedHealth, which initiated its Rural Payment Acceleration Pilot in four states in January, said the pilot will immediately expand to Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia.Price: $322.61, Change: $-2.02, Percent Change: -0.62%

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