Supreme Court agrees to review bans on transgender athletes joining teams that align with their gender identity
The decision puts the issue of transgender rights on the Supreme Court's docket for the second year in a row and is by far the most significant matter the justices have agreed to hear in the term that will begin in October.
In a significant loss for transgender advocates, a 6-3 majority of the Supreme Court ruled on June 18 that Tennessee could bar trans youth from accessing puberty blockers and hormone therapy. Though the state's law also bars surgeries, they were not at issue in the high court's case.
The court is likely to decide the case by early next summer.
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UnitedHealth Stock Is One of the Worst-Performing S&P 500 Stocks in 2025. Should You Buy the Dip?
Wall Street is cheering fresh highs as the S&P 500 Index ($SPX) wraps a solid second quarter, closing June 2025 strong. The rally has been powered by cooling inflation, resilient earnings, and fading tariff concerns after April's policy shock. Just three months back, the market briefly dipped toward bear territory amid geopolitical tensions, China's AI push, tariff fears, and fiscal uncertainty, keeping investors on edge about the rebound's staying power. Despite the S&P rallying over 28% from its April lows of $4,835, the bull run has still left many big names behind. Nearly a third of the index's stocks still ended the first half of 2025 in the red. UnitedHealth (UNH), a giant in health insurance and managed care services, has plunged 39% so far in 2025. UNH stock has been hit by soaring Medicare Advantage costs, a probe into Medicare fraud, and a sudden CEO exit, making it the index's fourth-worst performer. Michael Saylor Says 'You'll Wish You'd Bought More' Bitcoin as MicroStrategy Doubles Down Is Microsoft Stock About to Go Nuclear? Is Super Micro Computer Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold for July 2025? Tired of missing midday reversals? The FREE Barchart Brief newsletter keeps you in the know. Sign up now! While UNH is at five-year lows, a 1.8% five-day bounce hints at some life. With the dividend-paying stock halved and trading at a compelling valuation, is this a classic 'buy the dip' setup? Or a moment for caution despite the allure of value and yield? Founded in 1977, UnitedHealth has grown into a $295 billion healthcare heavyweight. With its deep roots in health insurance and care services, the company runs on two powerhouse engines: UnitedHealthcare and Optum. UnitedHealthcare handles the insurance side, offering plans that serve over 50 million people. It's the backbone, giving the company scale, reach, and reliable revenue. But it's Optum that brings the spark, driving growth through data, tech, and pharmacy solutions. From analytics to care delivery, Optum's strategy pushes innovation across the system. Together, these segments give the company its edge in a complex healthcare landscape. UNH stock has been in free fall in 2025, hitting a low of $248.88 in May. Over the past 52 weeks, the stock has declined 38%, trailing far behind the broader S&P's surge of 13%. However, UNH stock is rebounding, up 1% over the past month. UnitedHealth's downfall in 2025 was not just a single bad headline. It was a chain reaction that started fast and spiraled hard. It kicked off on April 17, when the company shocked the Street by slashing its full-year earnings forecast. This was because a flood of higher-acuity Medicare Advantage patients drove costs far beyond expectations, exposing just how outdated and fragile their forecasting models had become. Then May hit like a wrecking ball. CEO Andrew Witty abruptly resigned, raising eyebrows amid growing pressure. Days later, reports surfaced of a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into alleged Medicare fraud. By mid-May, the stock had crashed, hitting five-year lows. Just when it seemed the damage was done, more scandal dropped with accusations of UnitedHealth secretly paying nursing homes to avoid costly hospital transfers. Even insider buying gave only a brief lift to UNH. In a short span, UnitedHealth went from a rock-solid name to a cautionary tale unraveling in real time. After its brutal springtime plunge, UNH stock is priced at 14 times forward earnings and 0.7 times sales, trading in bargain territory. Those multiples sit well below both the sector medians and its own five-year averages, catching the eye of value hunters sniffing out a possible rebound. Despite the stock's decline, UnitedHealth has signaled some confidence where it counts: dividends. In June, the company hiked its quarterly payout by 5.2% to $2.21, marking 15 consecutive years of increases. Paid out on June 24, the hike pushed its annual yield near 2.6%. On April 17, UnitedHealth reported Q1 2025 earnings, and it wasn't the kind of update Wall Street wanted to hear. Revenue climbed 9.8% year-over-year (YOY) to $109.6 billion but still came in shy of expectations. Adjusted EPS rose 4.2% to $7.20 yet missed the estimated mark of $7.27. UnitedHealthcare, the insurance arm, posted a solid 12.2% revenue gain to $84.6 billion. Meanwhile, Optum saw more modest growth of 4.6% to $63.9 billion, with Optum Rx doing the heavy lifting. Still, rising costs loomed large. Total operating expenses surged 9.4% annually to $100.5 billion. On the brighter side, the company exited the quarter with $34.3 billion in cash and short-term investments and generated $5.5 billion in operating cash flow. 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UNH stock has a 'Moderate Buy' consensus overall, down from a consensus 'Strong Buy' rating a month ago. Of the 24 analysts covering the stock, 15 advise a 'Strong Buy,' two suggest a 'Moderate Buy,' and seven analysts play it safe with a 'Hold.' The mean price target of $363.43 implies shares could rise as much as 18%. The Street-high target of $440, way below this year's highs, signals that UNH has an upside potential of 43% from current levels. The U.S. healthcare industry, despite constant political firestorms, is built to endure. For years, UnitedHealth has stood as its crown jewel. Defensive, dividend-paying, and shock-resistant, it has been the kind of stock long-term investors can count on. But 2025 has shattered that illusion. While the broader market climbs to record highs, UnitedHealth's dramatic plunge reminds us that even giants can stumble hard. Sure, UNH stock now trades at a discount, offering an attractive dividend yield. Insiders are buying shares, and UnitedHealth still commands significant market share and robust cash flow. But is this really a 'buy the dip' moment? It's probably a bet that management can steady the ship, and the storm eventually clears. Until then, UnitedHealth sits in a gray zone between legacy and uncertainty, where long-term promise collides with short-term pain. Investors should exercise caution before jumping in. On the date of publication, Sristi Suman Jayaswal did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
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The rare opportunity Cooper Flagg has that makes him feel ‘blessed'
Cooper Flagg is in a rare, but fortunate situation. Most first overall draft picks are tasked with instantly becoming the No. 1 option of a team coming off all-time-low types of seasons – but Flagg won't necessarily have that burden as he joins a Dallas Mavericks team alongside likely future Hall of Famers Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving. Advertisement 'A lot of people in this position or this situation aren't granted this opportunity, so I just feel really blessed and grateful for the situation I've been given,' Flagg said Friday during his Mavericks introductory press conference. 'I'm just looking forward to being a sponge. Just getting down here, I'm excited to just learn, soak it all in and learn from the guys that are older and have been through it all before.' Cooper Flagg at his introductory press conference alongside Mavericks GM Nico Harrison (left) and head coach Jason Kidd (right). NBAE via Getty Images Dallas is fresh off a 2024 NBA Finals appearance led by now-Laker Luka Doncic, but the Mavericks found themselves in the draft lottery following season-derailing injuries to Davis and Irving following the blockbuster Doncic trade. With just a 1.8 percent chance at landing the No. 1 pick in the draft, the unthinkable became reality as the Mavericks captured Flagg. Kyrie Irving is recovering from a torn ACL but will likely be in the mix for the Mavericks at the end of next season. AP Despite missing the playoffs, the foundation remains for the team to be contenders with a roster that, aside from Doncic, remained mostly intact after the 2024 finals run. Advertisement While Irving likely won't return from his ACL injury until the back half of the season, Davis and another future Hall of Famer, Klay Thompson, who was added last offseason, should provide plenty of stability for Flagg to find his NBA footing while not needing to instantly take on a colossal workload. 'Those guys have so much knowledge,' Flagg said of his new veteran teammates. 'They've been through so much, and they have so much experience that it's just going to be an incredible opportunity for me to learn and grow under them.' Anthony Davis was acquired by the Mavericks in the Luka Doncic trade but dealt with injuries upon his arrival. Getty Images While he may not be the No. 1 option right away, Flagg will seemingly take the torch of the franchise that was passed first from Dirk Nowitzki to Doncic. Advertisement 'I'm coming in just trying to learn and trying to get better every single day,' Flagg said. 'If I can do that to the best of my ability, I think expectations and pressures that other people will put on me and our team, that will kind of work itself out. 'So I'm just trying to come in and be the best that I can be and just win at the highest level.'
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