Putting on my ‘health tech wet blanket' hat because contactless blood pressure isn't really a thing yet.
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Wells Fargo Sticks with Overweight on UnitedHealth (UNH), Trims Target to $267
UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH) is one of the best defensive stocks to invest in according to analysts. At the time of writing this article, UnitedHealth ranks among the 10 biggest year-to-date decliners, which have lost over 50% among U.S.-listed stocks with a market capitalization exceeding $2 billion. The company, which was marred by government investigations, operational failures, and leadership changes, reported mixed Q2 2025 earnings results at the end of July. Those results have been unable to shore up the share price, as the long-term growth outlook is still murky. A close-up of a healthcare professional studying a computer screen with data while consulting with a patient. The company guided for 2025 adjusted EPS to be over $16, which was significantly below Bloomberg's consensus expectations of $20.4. Seeing the brighter side, Jeff Jonas, portfolio manager at Gabelli Funds, called the guidance highly conservative and believes that it will be easier for the company to beat such low expectations. However, the steep correction and valuation discount have attracted analysts' interest, with around two-thirds of them having a Buy or equivalent rating. One of the analysts who maintains an optimistic view is Wells Fargo's Stephen Baxter. On August 4, Baxter maintained an Overweight rating on UnitedHealth but lowered his price target to $267 from $306. The revision followed a recently held management meeting where he assessed the company's updated outlook. According to the analyst, UnitedHealth's management remains confident in the company's ability to meet its reset 2025 guidance. In his view, management is taking a cautious but disciplined approach in factoring in cost trends and margin recovery. Baxter views this conservatism positively, suggesting it reduces the risk of further downside revisions. UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH) is a healthcare company that provides health insurance and healthcare solutions in the U.S. and globally under the UnitedHealthcare and Optum brands. While we acknowledge the potential of UNH as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 10 Most Oversold S&P 500 Stocks So Far in 2025 and 10 Most Oversold Semiconductor Stocks So Far in 2025. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. 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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Actor with colorectal cancer shares simple sign that he ignored: ‘I had no idea'
James van der Beek has revealed the first warning sign of his colon cancer — and it's one that did not seem alarming at the time. The "Dawson's Creek" actor, 48, who announced his colorectal cancer diagnosis in November 2024, recently told Healthline that "there wasn't any red flag or something glaring." "I was healthy. I was doing the cold plunge," he said. "I was in amazing cardiovascular shape, and I had stage 3 cancer, and I had no idea." Colorectal Cancer Diagnoses Soar Among Younger Adults For One Key Reason The one symptom that he did experience was a change in bowel movements, which the actor chalked up to an effect of his coffee consumption. "Before my diagnosis, I didn't know much about colorectal cancer," van der Beek said. "I didn't even realize the screening age [had] dropped to 45; I thought it was still 50." Read On The Fox News App He ultimately underwent a colonoscopy, which revealed that the actor had stage 3 colon cancer. Professor Eitan Friedman, M.D., Ph.D., an oncologist and founder of The Suzanne Levy-Gertner Oncogenetics Unit at the Sheba Medical Center in Israel, confirmed that changes in bowel habits is the primary red flag that should raise the suspicion of colorectal cancer. Others include fatigue as a result of anemia, blood in stool, weight loss, loss of appetite and abdominal discomfort, Friedman, who has not treated van der Beek, told Fox News Digital. Dr. Erica Barnell, M.D., Ph.D., a physician-scientist at Washington University School of Medicine — and co-founder and chief medical officer at Geneoscopy — noted that van der Beek's experience of having no "glaring" signs is common. "Many colorectal cancers develop silently, without obvious symptoms," Barnell, who also did not treat the actor, told Fox News Digital. "By the time symptoms appear, the disease may already be advanced." Symptoms are "especially worrisome" for those 45 and older who have at least one first-degree relative with colon cancer or other GI malignancies, and those with active inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, added Friedman, who is also an advisory board member at SpotitEarly, a startup that offers an at-home breath test to detect early-stage cancer signals. The overall chance of an average-risk person getting colorectal cancer over a lifetime is 4% to 5%, according to Friedman. "Colonoscopy at age 45 onwards, at five- to 10-year intervals, has been shown to lead to early detection of polyps that have the potential to become malignant, and to allow for their removal as an effective means of minimizing the risk of malignant transformation," he said. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter Unfortunately, Barnell noted, "screening compliance in the U.S. remains below national targets, and gaps are widest in rural, low-income and minority communities." To help close those gaps, she called for greater access to "accurate, noninvasive screening technologies," along with efforts to increase public awareness. "Most people don't like talking about bowel habits, but paying attention to changes can save your life," Barnell said. "Screening gives us the chance to find problems early — often before you feel sick — and that can make all the difference." For more Health articles, visit Fox News Digital reached out to van der Beek's representative for article source: Actor with colorectal cancer shares simple sign that he ignored: 'I had no idea' Solve the daily Crossword
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New SNAP Restrictions Will Limit Soda and Candy Purchases in These 6 States
Six states have now banned soda from SNAP purchases. Six more states are changing the rules around what foods you can and can't purchase using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) revealed this week. According to the announcement, SNAP waivers for West Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas were signed on August 3, amending the "statutory definition of food for purchase" and ending the "subsidization of popular types of junk food beginning in 2026." These states join six others that signed waivers enacting SNAP reform earlier this year. Here's what these changes mean for the millions of Americans that rely on this vital program for food purchases. What is SNAP? SNAP is a federally funded program that acts similarly to cash for those who need assistance with purchasing food. As Feeding America explains, "SNAP provides monthly funds to buy groceries. It is the largest anti-hunger program in America, helping over 41 million people in 2022." That number equates to about 12.5% of the United States population. The program, run by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, provides people with a card they can swipe or tap like a credit card to pay for food. "You can use it at local stores or farmers' markets for groceries. The amount depends on your income and family size," Feeding America adds. Who is eligible for the program is determined on a state-by-state basis. However, the USDA notes that in most cases, your household must meet both the gross and net income limits it sets for each household size, with gross monthly income falling at or below 130% of the poverty line and 100% of net income at or below the poverty line. Related: The FDA Just Axed 52 Food Standards – Here's What It Means for Your Groceries If a household is eligible, it will receive an "allotment" of total food benefits each month. The USDA details, "Because SNAP households are expected to spend about 30% of their own resources on food, your allotment is calculated by multiplying your household's net monthly income by 0.3 and subtracting the result from the maximum monthly allotment for your household size." Historically, waivers have also been used for supporting participants and expanding eligibility during times of low employment in the U.S., the Center for Science in the Public Interest explains. That included during the pandemic, as waivers gave "states flexibility to adapt the program and deliver services virtually." Which foods are being banned? The new waivers, which go into effect in 2026, mean families will no longer be able to purchase products like soda or candy using their SNAP benefits. Some argue that this means families can no longer buy goods that may be used in celebrations like birthday parties or gatherings. However, the reforms differ state by state. Newsweek reported that in Texas, the changes will ban soda, energy drinks, candy, and prepared desserts from SNAP benefits, while in Colorado and West Virginia, only soft drinks will be off the table. Nevertheless, the changes align with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again movement. 'For years, SNAP has used taxpayer dollars to fund soda and candy — products that fuel America's diabetes and chronic disease epidemics,' Kennedy shared in the announcement. 'These waivers help put real food back at the center of the program and empower states to lead the charge in protecting public health. I thank these governors who have stepped up to request waivers, and I encourage others to follow their lead. This is how we Make America Healthy Again.' Related: Experts Warn of Public Health Risks as the Trump Administration Eliminates 2 Critical Food Safety Committees Unfortunately, this interpretation of how households use SNAP is likely an oversimplification of how many Americans access food. "The issue isn't about individuals misusing their benefits but their limited choices. In many rural areas and food deserts, convenience stores and fast-food chains are often the only available options," Kavelle Christie, a health policy and advocacy expert and director at the Center for Regulatory Policy and Health Innovation, told Newsweek. "For many families, fresh produce and healthy meals are luxuries that are unattainable, not because they do not want these foods, but because they are unavailable or too expensive." Related: Can the Government Tell SNAP Users What to Eat? The Center for Science in the Public Interest notes that while there are no results available from previous waivers restricting specific purchases — as this is the first time restrictive waivers have been allowed in practice — systematic models and reviews indicate that restrictions could lead to a decrease in purchases of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB). It explains, "Modeling studies find that restrictions could reduce consumption among children and could reduce diet-related chronic disease prevalence among adults. But randomized controlled trials conducted in 2016 and 2024 found no significant differences in diet quality among study participants who received an SSB restriction versus the control group." It also cites the USDA's study, which showed that SNAP participants struggle with healthy eating not because they lack an understanding of what is healthy, but rather because healthy food is simply unaffordable, an issue that is only worsening in the U.S. Have other states passed SNAP waivers? SNAP restriction waivers for Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, Arkansas, Idaho, and Utah were signed in early 2025, though government officials say they are hoping more states will follow suit. Although the precise restrictions may vary from state to state, all of them have banned soda or soft drinks, and several have banned candy. 'I hope to see all 50 states join this bold common sense approach. For too long, the root cause of our chronic disease epidemic has been addressed with lip service only. It's time for powerful changes to our nation's SNAP program,' FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary noted in the HHS's announcement. 'The goal is simple — reduce mass suffering from diabetes, obesity, and other long-term medical conditions. I applaud the leadership of Secretaries Rollins and Kennedy and President Trump in going bold.' Read the original article on Food & Wine Solve the daily Crossword
