UnitedHealth Closes $3.3B Amedisys Deal Amid Two-Year Antitrust Battle.

UnitedHealth has completed its $3.3 billion acquisition of Amedisys after a two-year antitrust battle. The deal expands UnitedHealth's footprint in home-based care and makes it the largest hospice provider in the US. The companies divested 164 facilities and paid a $1.1 million civil penalty to resolve regulatory issues. UnitedHealth stock has a Moderate Buy consensus rating and a 15.48% upside potential.

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) has successfully completed its acquisition of Amedisys, a leading home health and hospice care provider, after a two-year antitrust battle. The $3.3 billion deal, announced on July 2, 2025, expands UnitedHealth's footprint in home-based care and positions the company as the largest hospice provider in the United States [1].

The closure of the deal comes after the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) proposed a settlement requiring Amedisys and UnitedHealth Group to divest 164 home health and hospice facilities. This divestiture impacts home health and hospice locations in 19 states, including one facility in Louisiana, and accounts for $528 million in revenue [1]. The DOJ also proposed that Amedisys pay a $1.1 million civil penalty for inaccurately certifying compliance with the HSR Act [1].

The acquisition was initially challenged by the DOJ due to concerns that it could limit patient choice and raise local healthcare costs by consolidating market power. However, the current administration's business-friendly posture has led to the deal's approval, clearing a major regulatory hurdle for UnitedHealth [2].

UnitedHealth's stock has a Moderate Buy consensus rating and a 15.48% upside potential, according to Zacks Investment Research. The stock has lost 50.1% in the year-to-date period compared to the industry's decline of 41.7% [2]. UnitedHealth's forward price-to-earnings ratio stands at 14.13, up from the industry average of 12.30, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate for UnitedHealth's 2025 earnings is pegged at $17.32 per share, implying a 37.4% decline from the year-ago period [2].

The acquisition of Amedisys is part of UnitedHealth's strategy to expand into the fast-growing home-healthcare sector, which is becoming increasingly critical as the U.S. population ages and demand for in-home services rises. Home care reduces hospital costs and utilization, improves patient outcomes, and positions UnitedHealth to capture more of the healthcare value chain [2].

References:
[1] https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/business/33-billion-deal-for-baton-rouge-based-amedisys-completed/article_875b8089-3a1a-4d38-910e-90a861ef8268.html
[2] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/unitedhealth-really-fight-cost-headaches-152400213.html