UPDATE: UnitedHealth Q4 Profit Surges 21%

UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH) reported a 21% rise in its fourth-quarter profit.

UnitedHealth's quarterly profit surged to $1.26 billion, or $1.17 per share, from $1.04 billion, or $0.94 per share, in the year-ago period. Its revenue rose 7.9% to $25.92 billion. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $1.04 per share on revenue of $25.69 billion.

The company's UnitedHealthcare insurance business' revenue surged 7.3% y/y to $24.17 billion.

UnitedHealth's operating margin rose to 8% from 7.5%.

UnitedHealth shares closed at $53.94 yesterday.