UnitedHealth says future looks bright

UnitedHealth Group Inc. gave an upbeat assessment of its outlook Tuesday, with executives using terms like "solid growth" and "tremendous opportunities" to describe 2011 results and prospects for the future.

The Minnetonka-based health insurer expects annual revenue growth of 6 to 9 percent in the next five years, executives said at UnitedHealth's annual investor conference in New York.

The nation's largest health insurer by sales also said it has an earnings-per-share growth target of 13 to 16 percent "over the long term."

"In the decade to come, we will become a deeper and broader part of the American and international health care systems, just as we have over the last decade," CEO Stephen Hemsley told the conference.

In a news release on Monday and again at the conference on Tuesday, UnitedHealth said it expects to pay dividends of 65 cents a share in 2012, with revenue at $107 billion to $108 billion. The company also said net earnings for 2011 will be about $4.52 to $4.57 a share.

UnitedHealth shares rose 5 percent over the past two days. They closed Tuesday at $45.88, up 85 cents.

Among the 25 analysts covering the company, 21 have "buy" recommendations.

"The company has continued to focus on shifting more of its earnings to faster-growing and less regulated health-related service business," Rex said in a report to investors.

The company also said it will be on the lookout for acquisitions. "We will build, we will buy, we will integrate," Chief Financial Officer David Wichmann said.