UNH Options Signal Bullish Bias: Key Strikes at $340 Call and $325 Put Highlight Breakout Potential

• UnitedHealth Group’s stock (UNH) trades at $330.32, down 0.95% amid a short-term bullish trend but long-term consolidation.
• Options data shows heavy call open interest at $340–$350 strikes and puts at $325–$330, with a put/call ratio of 0.486 (calls dominate).
• Recent news: Earnings beat, $1B buyback, AI partnership, and a $500 price target from JPMorgan.

The big picture: UNH is caught between bullish near-term momentum and cautious long-term positioning. Options activity suggests a high probability of a breakout above $340—or a defensive move toward $325 if sentiment shifts.What the Options Chain Reveals About Market Sentiment

Let’s start with the elephant in the room: UNH20251212C340 and UNH20251212C350 options dominate this Friday’s open interest. These strikes sit 1%–3% above the current price, meaning traders are heavily betting on a short-term rally. The $340 call alone has 2,322 contracts in OI, nearly double the nearest competitor.

But it’s not all one-sided optimism. The UNH20251212P325 put (1,438 OI) and UNH20251212P320 (1,254 OI) show hedgers are bracing for a pullback. Here’s the kicker: the put/call ratio for open interest is just 0.486. That’s not just bullish—it’s aggressively bullish.

No block trades to note, but the concentration of call OI at $340–$350 suggests institutional players are either scaling into long positions or hedging existing bullish bets. If the stock closes above $340 this week, look for a cascade of call options to expire in the money—forcing a reevaluation of the $350 level as a new benchmark.

How Recent News Fuels the Bull Case

UnitedHealth’s Q3 earnings beat ($5.20 vs. $4.90) and $1B buyback are textbook catalysts for a short-term pop. The AI partnership with MedAI Solutions adds a longer-term tailwind: if predictive analytics cut costs by 15% for clients, that’s a revenue multiplier for Optum.

But here’s the rub: the stock’s 200D moving average ($362.77) still looms as resistance. The bulls need to retest and hold above $340 to signal that the 200D MA is no longer a psychological barrier. JPMorgan’s $500 target isn’t out of reach if the AI integration pays off—but that’s a 2026 story, not a 2025 one.

Actionable Trade Ideas for Today

For options traders, the most compelling setup is a call debit spread using UNH20251212C340 and UNH20251212C350. With the stock near $330, buying the $340 call and selling the $350 call captures the high-conviction strike while capping risk. Maximum profit occurs if UNH closes above $350 by Friday.

Stock traders should consider two levels:

• Entry near $322 (30D support) if the stock holds above $320. Target $340 first, then $350.
• Short-term scalpers could sell into the $335–$340 rally, aiming for a pullback to $328–$330.

For a conservative play, a put spread at UNH20251212P325 and UNH20251212P330 offers downside protection if the stock stumbles. The $325 put has 1,438 OI, making it a liquid hedge.

Volatility on the Horizon

The next 72 hours will test UNH’s resolve. A close above $340 would validate the call-heavy positioning and trigger a retest of the 200D MA. A breakdown below $325, however, could spark a wave of stop-loss selling.

The AI partnership and buyback are long-term positives, but near-term traders need to focus on the $325–$350 battleground. This is where options sentiment, technical levels, and news flow converge.

Bottom line: UNH isn’t just a healthcare stock—it’s a volatility magnet. Right now, the options market is pricing in a breakout. Your job? Decide whether to ride the wave or hedge the crash.