UnitedHealth falls as 2025 profit forecast below estimates

** Shares of health insurer UnitedHealth UNH.N fall 4.4% to $269.92

** UNH forecasts annual adjusted profit of $16 per share, below analysts' estimate of $20.9 per share, according to data compiled by LSEG

** Company previously expected annual profit in the range of $26 to $26.50 per share, before suspending its annual forecast in May

** Jefferies says "we think $16 in '25 EPS was at the lower end of investor expectations and likely pressures the stock"

** Company expects to return to earnings growth in 2026

** UNH says medical cost trends in its Medicare Advantage plans for older adults are expected to run at about 7.5% in 2025, exceeding its pricing expectations of just over 5%

** Co posts Q2 adj. profit of $4.08 per share, compared with estimates of $4.48 per share

** Including session moves, UNH down 46.6% YTD