UnitedHealth Group Incorporated

UNH

Healthcare · Healthcare Plans · Stock · quarterly payer

$417.00

Undervalued · +18% Add to Portfolio

Forward Yield

2.23%

Annual Dividend

$9.28

Payout Ratio

58%

5-Yr Growth

12.6%

Ex-Date

Sep 14, 2026

Frequency

Quarterly

Key facts about UNH's dividend

Data as of Oct 22, 2026 · Source: SmarterDividends data

As of Oct 22, 2026, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) has a forward dividend yield of 2.23%, based on an annual dividend of $9.28 per share and a share price of $417.00.
As of Oct 22, 2026, UNH's dividend safety grade from SmarterDividends is A (89 out of 100), which rates the dividend as very safe.
By SmarterDividends' count, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) has raised its dividend for 16 consecutive years as of Oct 22, 2026.
UNH last cut its regular dividend in 1999.
UNH's most recent ex-dividend date was Sep 14, 2026, for a dividend of $2.32 per share.
As of Oct 22, 2026, UNH pays out 58% of its trailing 12-month earnings as dividends (its payout ratio).
UNH's dividend has grown at an average rate of 12.6% a year over the past five years.
As of Oct 22, 2026, UNH's 2.23% yield is 40% above its five-year average yield of 1.59%.
As of Oct 22, 2026, SmarterDividends' blended fair-value estimate for UNH is $493.81 per share, 18% above the $417.00 share price, so UNH screens as undervalued.
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) pays its dividend quarterly, 4 times a year.
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) has raised its regular dividend 24 times and cut it 2 times across the 87 payments on record since 1990. Its most recent change was a 5.0% increase to $2.32 per share, going ex-dividend on Jun 15, 2026. The last cut went ex-dividend on Mar 30, 1999.
UnitedHealth (UNH) has declared its first higher dividend of the year in June in 4 of the last 5 years; its most recent raise, 5.0%, was declared on Jun 3, 2026.

Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "UNH Dividend: Yield, Safety Grade & Next Ex-Date," updated Oct 22, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/stocks/UNH

Summary

As of Oct 22, 2026, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) yields 2.23% ($9.28 a year per share), has a dividend safety grade of A (89/100) and has 16 consecutive years of dividend increases on record.

Is UNH a good dividend stock?

Yes

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 2.23% ($9.28/yr), with 16 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding.

Advantages

16 consecutive years of dividend growth
Comfortable payout ratio (58%)
Strong 12.6% 5-yr dividend growth
Top-tier dividend safety score

Risks

Cut its dividend in 1999
Share price is down over the past 5 years

Key Data

Dividend Yield: 2.23%
Payout Ratio: 58%
Annual Dividend: $9.28
5-Yr Avg Growth: 12.6%
Ex-Dividend Date: Sep 14, 2026
Years of Growth: 16
Frequency: quarterly
Beta: 0.61
Market Cap: $374.3B
P/E Ratio: 26.8
5-Yr Total Return: -10%
52-Week Range: $255.97 – $461.62
Dividend Safety: A · 89/100
Ever Cut?: Yes (1999)

UNH dividend raises and cuts

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) has raised its regular dividend 24 times and cut it 2 times across the 87 payments on record since 1990. Its most recent change was a 5.0% increase to $2.32 per share, going ex-dividend on Jun 15, 2026. The last cut went ex-dividend on Mar 30, 1999.

Ex-date	Change	Old → new	Move
Jun 15, 2026	Raise	$2.21 → $2.32	+5.0%
Jun 16, 2025	Raise	$2.10 → $2.21	+5.2%
Jun 17, 2024	Raise	$1.88 → $2.10	+11.7%
Jun 15, 2023	Raise	$1.65 → $1.88	+13.9%
Jun 16, 2022	Raise	$1.45 → $1.65	+13.8%
Jun 18, 2021	Raise	$1.25 → $1.45	+16.0%
Jun 19, 2020	Raise	$1.08 → $1.25	+15.7%
Jun 14, 2019	Raise	$0.900 → $1.08	+20.0%
Jun 15, 2018	Raise	$0.750 → $0.900	+20.0%
Jun 15, 2017	Raise	$0.625 → $0.750	+20.0%
Jun 15, 2016	Raise	$0.500 → $0.625	+25.0%
Jun 11, 2015	Raise	$0.375 → $0.500	+33.3%

Show all 26 changes since 1993

Ex-date	Change	Old → new	Move
Jun 12, 2014	Raise	$0.280 → $0.375	+33.9%
Jun 13, 2013	Raise	$0.212 → $0.280	+32.1%
Jun 13, 2012	Raise	$0.163 → $0.213	+30.7%
Jun 3, 2011	Raise	$0.125 → $0.163	+30.4%
Jun 3, 2010	Raise	$0.0300 → $0.125	+316.7%
Mar 30, 2006	Raise	$0.0150 → $0.0300	+100.0%
Mar 30, 2004	Raise	$0.0075 → $0.0150	+100.0%
Mar 29, 2001	Raise	$0.0038 → $0.0075	+100.0%
Mar 30, 2000	Raise	$0.0010 → $0.0038	+275.0%
Mar 30, 1999	Cut	$0.0038 → $0.0010	−73.3%
Apr 1, 1997	Raise	$0.0010 → $0.0038	+275.0%
Apr 1, 1996	Cut	$0.0038 → $0.0010	−73.3%
Mar 25, 1994	Raise	$0.0004 → $0.0038	+756.2%
Mar 26, 1993	Raise	$0.0002 → $0.0004	+100.0%

Every UNH payment →Download every raise and cut (CSV)

UNH ex-dividend date & scheduleNext ex-date Sep 14, 2026 · full ex-dividend historyView →UNH dividend historyEvery payment, totals by year, raises and cutsView →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is UNH a good dividend stock?

Yes. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 2.23% ($9.28/yr), with 16 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding.

Is UNH undervalued?

Based on a blend of discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings-multiple estimate, UNH's fair value is about $493.81 versus a $417.00 share price — so it looks undervalued (+18% vs. fair value).

Is UNH's dividend safe?

UNH has a dividend-safety grade of A (89/100), based on its payout coverage, free-cash-flow, 16-year growth streak, a dividend cut in 1999, debt and yield-versus-history.

What is UNH's fair value?

Our blended fair-value estimate for UNH is about $493.81 per share, roughly 18% above the current $417.00 price — combining a discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings multiple.

Is UNH a buy, hold, or sell?

We don't issue formal ratings, but on the data UNH screens as "yes" and undervalued. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 2.23% ($9.28/yr), with 16 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding. This is research for your own analysis, not investment advice.

Will UNH cut its dividend?

UNH earns a dividend-safety grade of A (89/100), and has cut its dividend before (last in 1999). A higher score means lower cut risk based on payout coverage, cash flow and history — but no score guarantees a dividend.

Does UNH pay a dividend?

Yes. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated pays a quarterly dividend of about $9.28 per share annually, a forward yield of roughly 2.23%.

What is UNH's dividend yield?

As of Oct 22, 2026, UNH's forward dividend yield is 2.23%, based on a $9.28 annual dividend and a $417.00 share price.

What is UNH's dividend per share?

As of Oct 22, 2026, UNH pays $9.28 per share per year, distributed on a quarterly basis.

What is UNH's dividend payout ratio?

As of Oct 22, 2026, UNH's payout ratio is 58% of trailing 12-month earnings — a comfortable level that leaves room to keep raising the dividend.

How many years has UNH grown its dividend?

As of Oct 22, 2026, UNH has increased its dividend for 16 consecutive years.

When is the next UNH ex-dividend date?

As of Oct 22, 2026, UNH's next ex-dividend date hasn't been announced. The most recent was Sep 14, 2026, for $2.32 per share.

Dividend Growth

Total dividends per share by year

Dividend History

Full UNH dividend history →

Ex-Date	Pay Date	Amount	Type
Sep 14, 2026	Sep 22, 2026	$2.3200	regular
Jun 15, 2026	Jun 23, 2026	$2.3200	regular
Mar 9, 2026	Mar 17, 2026	$2.2100	regular
Dec 8, 2025	Dec 16, 2025	$2.2100	regular
Sep 15, 2025	Sep 23, 2025	$2.2100	regular
Jun 16, 2025	Jun 24, 2025	$2.2100	regular
Mar 10, 2025	Mar 18, 2025	$2.1000	regular
Dec 9, 2024	Dec 17, 2024	$2.1000	regular
Sep 16, 2024	Sep 24, 2024	$2.1000	regular
Jun 17, 2024	Jun 25, 2024	$2.1000	regular
Mar 8, 2024	Mar 19, 2024	$1.8800	regular
Dec 1, 2023	Dec 12, 2023	$1.8800	regular
Sep 8, 2023	Sep 19, 2023	$1.8800	regular
Jun 15, 2023	Jun 27, 2023	$1.8800	regular