1 Healthcare Stock Set to Rebound in 2026

By Stefon Walters – Mar 17, 2026 at 8:45PM ESTKey PointsUnitedHealth Group has faced increased costs and a potential Medicare Advantage shakeup.UnitedHealth is one of the world's largest healthcare companies, operating in insurance and care.With its low valuation, there is more upside than downside to UnitedHealth's stock.It's been a rough patch for UnitedHealth Group (UNH +0.73%) over the past couple of years. After its stock dropped by around 35% in 2025, it has continued to decline, down over 13% in 2026. Despite its recent stock price struggles, I believe most of the company's largest issues are in the rearview, and it's set to rebound in 2026. ExpandNYSE: UNHUnitedHealth GroupToday's Change(0.73%) $2.08Current Price$287.57Key Data PointsMarket Cap$259BDay's Range$284.84 - $288.9952wk Range$234.60 - $606.36Volume5.8MAvg Vol9MDividend Yield3.10% UnitedHealth's struggles have been driven by higher costs, negative publicity, and a potentially flat Medicare Advantage payment rate in 2027. But in my opinion, many of these woes have been priced into the stock, and investors are taking for granted just how dominant UnitedHealth continues to be. It's still one of the world's largest healthcare companies, with a large presence in both insurance and care. This year, many of UnitedHealth's biggest issues are expected to improve. It's planning to become more efficient by scaling back its Medicare Advantage footprint by discontinuing some plans, streamlining operations to reduce operating costs, and leaning into artificial intelligence (AI) to improve productivity. Assuming these plans play out as expected, UnitedHealth should be set for a rebound. The company expects its revenue to dip slightly from 2025 ($447.6 billion to $439 billion), but its earnings are expected to return to growth. And trading at only 15.8 times its projected earnings over the next 12 months, the stock seems to have way more upside than downside.Read NextMar 2, 2026 •By David Jagielski, CPAUnitedHealth's Stock Might Not Rally Until This Number ImprovesFeb 21, 2026 •By Matthew BenjaminWhat's Wrong With UnitedHealth Stock?Feb 18, 2026 •By Stefon WaltersWhat Is One of the Best Healthcare Stocks to Own for the Next 10 Years?Feb 18, 2026 •By Adria CiminoUnitedHealth Group Faces New Challenges -- What Investors Need to KnowFeb 18, 2026 •By Keith SpeightsIs a Dividend Cut Coming for UnitedHealth Stock?Feb 11, 2026 •By Bryan White3 Dividend Stocks to Buy Right Now for Income and UpsideAbout the AuthorStefon Walters is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering publicly traded companies across technology, consumer goods, and financials, as well as retirement planning. Stefon is a published author and has more than a decade of experience teaching financial literacy. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.TMFStefonWStocks MentionedUnitedHealth GroupNYSE: UNH$287.57(+0.73%)+$2.08*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.