What caused UNH's Q3 2024 earnings to exceed forecasts?

UnitedHealth Group's (UNH) Q3 2024 earnings exceeded forecasts due to strong revenue growth in its Optum and UnitedHealthcare segments, despite challenges such as a cyberattack and increased medical costs. 1. **Optum's Strong Performance**: Optum, UnitedHealth's healthcare services segment, contributed significantly to the revenue growth. The segment's revenues increased by 11.7% year-over-year to $62.9 billion, driven by higher patient volumes at Optum Health and increased usage of the Optum Rx pharmacy service. 2. **UnitedHealthcare's Growth**: The UnitedHealthcare segment also saw revenues rise by 5.3% year-over-year to $73.9 billion, reflecting increased domestic membership. This growth was supported by expanded services and value-based care arrangements. 3. **Overall Revenue Outperformance**: The company's total revenue for the quarter was $100.82 billion, surpassing analyst estimates of $98.7 billion. This outperformance was driven by solid business segments and effective cost management. 4. **Earnings Per Share (EPS) Analysis**: The actual EPS for Q3 2024 was $7.15, which included a surprise component of $0.13, indicating that the company's performance exceeded expectations in terms of profitability. This was a result of effective operational cash generation and a medical care ratio that improved to 85.1%, reflecting enhanced cost efficiency. In summary, UnitedHealth Group's Q3 2024 earnings exceeded forecasts due to robust performance across its key business segments, effective cost management, and strong operational cash generation. These factors, combined with favorable industry conditions, enabled the company to deliver better-than-expected results.