Latest news with #Despair
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
An Unpopular Pick: 5 Reasons Why Buying UnitedHealth Group Stock Now Could Be a Brilliant Move
Key Points UnitedHealth Group continues to face multiple challenges. The company has a plan to address the issues and boost its bottom line. The stock is a bargain with solid long-term growth prospects. 10 stocks we like better than UnitedHealth Group › An old country song morbidly titled "Gloom, Despair, and Agony on Me" included the lyrics, "If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all." This might be an apt motto for UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) these days. The healthcare giant continued to disappoint investors with its 2025 second-quarter update, revealing that full-year earnings will be worse than expected. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is conducting an investigation of UnitedHealth related to its Medicare billing practices, and its share price has plunged nearly 60% from the peak set in late 2024. UnitedHealth Group stock is a decidedly unpopular pick. However, here are five reasons why buying this beaten-down stock could be a brilliant move. 1. The company has a plan to address its problems It would be one thing if UnitedHealth Group's challenges were insurmountable, but they're not. The company has a clear and compelling plan to address its problems. UnitedHealth didn't anticipate how hard it would be hit by rising medical costs, especially with its Medicare Advantage plans. The most effective solution to this issue is simple: Raise premiums. That's exactly what UnitedHealth plans to do, but it has to wait until the beginning of next year for most premium hikes to take effect. Since commercial plans renew throughout the year, the company can implement premium changes more quickly with this line of business. Tim Noel, the new CEO of the UnitedHealthcare insurance business, said in the Q2 earnings call that his unit will have "strongly responsive pricing for 2026." That's not the only step the company is taking, though. Noel stated that UnitedHealthcare has "stepped up our audit clinical policy and payment integrity tools to protect customers and patients from unnecessary costs." He added that the business is also streamlining its provider networks, especially for Medicare Advantage plans. UnitedHealth Group's Optum segment isn't performing as well as desired, either. Again, though, the company is implementing a plan to fix the problems. Optum CEO Patrick Conway said in the Q2 call that price increases are coming to reflect high patient acuity and risk. He also mentioned that Optum Health will discontinue serving around 200,000 patients. 2. Cost-cutting should boost the bottom line UnitedHealth Group is also moving forward with cost-cutting initiatives to boost its bottom line. CEO Stephen Hemsley referred to "meaningful cost opportunities within the enterprise" in his comments during the Q2 call, adding, "[W]e are pursuing them with urgency." Noel highlighted his unit's efforts to scale artificial intelligence (AI) across health plan operations, which should generate cost savings while improving patient and provider experiences. Conway expects Optum Health to deliver nearly $1 billion in cost savings in 2026. 3. Long-term growth prospects remain strong Despite UnitedHealth's challenges over the near term, its long-term growth prospects remain strong. The company expects to return to earnings growth next year. Hemsley predicts that earnings growth will accelerate in 2027 and beyond. Is this upbeat assessment merely the result of a CEO looking through rose-colored glasses? I don't think so. The consensus among analysts surveyed by LSEG is that UnitedHealth Group will deliver solid year-over-year earnings growth in 2026. 4. An experienced, steady hand is now at the wheel It's also important for investors to remember that UnitedHealth Group once again has an experienced, steady hand at the wheel. Hemsley returned to run the company two months ago. He previously served as CEO from 2006 to 2017, a period during which UnitedHealth Group flourished and its share price soared. 5. The stock is a bargain Last, but not least, UnitedHealth Group stock is a bargain. Its shares trade at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of below 11.6. That's not much higher than the valuation during the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009. Does the DOJ investigation justify such a low earnings multiple? I don't think so. UnitedHealth survived a previous lengthy investigation, with a court-appointed Special Master ultimately concluding that there wasn't evidence that the company had done anything wrong. Independent audits from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services show that UnitedHealth's Medicare practices are, in the company's words, "among the most accurate in the industry." UnitedHealth Group insists that it "has full confidence in its practices." Should you buy stock in UnitedHealth Group right now? Before you buy stock in UnitedHealth Group, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and UnitedHealth Group wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $630,291!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,075,791!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,039% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 182% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 29, 2025 Keith Speights has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends UnitedHealth Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. An Unpopular Pick: 5 Reasons Why Buying UnitedHealth Group Stock Now Could Be a Brilliant Move was originally published by The Motley Fool 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
West Australian
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
A family thought the sculpture on their piano was a ‘fake' Rodin. Now it's sold for more than $1.5 million
A sculpture by French artist Auguste Rodin — which had disappeared from public view for almost 120 years and was thought to be a copy — has sold for €860,000 ($A1,507,783.20) at auction. Le Désespoir (Despair) — which shows a female figure sitting on a rock holding one foot, with her knee hugged to her chest — was rediscovered at the end of 2024 after last being sold in 1906, French auction house Rouillac said. Rodin, who lived from 1840-1917, made several versions of Le Désespoir. This particular sculpture was modelled in 1890 and sculpted from marble in 1892-1893. Measuring just 28.5cm by 15cm by 25cm, the sculpture was originally modelled to form part of Rodin's monumental work The Gates Of Hell which features more than 200 figures and groups. The previous owners — a family from central France — had no idea of its value and had displayed the sculpture on top of a piano alongside family photos, auctioneer Aymeric Rouillac told CNN. 'They said 'it's a fake, it's a copy',' Rouillac said, adding he nevertheless decided to investigate further. The details of this sculpture are striking, Rouillac told CNN. 'The back, the muscles, they are perfect,' he said. 'You can feel every vertebra in the spinal column.' Following his own investigation, Rouillac took the sculpture for assessment by the Comité Rodin, which maintains a catalogue of the artist's work. Comité Rodin founder Jérôme Le Blay told CNN he was immediately struck by the 'exceptional' piece. 'I realised in a second that it was real,' he said. 'I had absolutely no doubt.' This particular example is 'extremely well made,' Le Blay said, adding it dates back to a period when Rodin was dedicating a huge amount of time to making a small number of sculptures. Rodin would have worked with assistants who would have carried out the initial work on a piece of marble, before he performed the final stages, he explained. According to Le Blay, the sculpture dates to 'one of the best moments of Rodin's career' before his growing fame meant he started to produce more and more works after the turn of the century. Upon his death, Rodin left his works to the Musée Rodin in Paris, as well as granting it permission to continue producing his bronze sculptures. While many of these posthumous bronzes go under the hammer each year, marbles are much harder to find, Le Blay said. Most of Rodin's marbles are owned by the Musée Rodin or by other large museums around the world. 'Marbles in private collections are rare,' he said, adding this piece has a 'kind of magic' due to the fact it has reappeared for sale after such a long time. In a 'passionate' auction, the top bid was made by a young banker from the US West Coast, according to the auction house.
Perth Now
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Family's ‘fake' art piece sells for more than $1.5 million
A sculpture by French artist Auguste Rodin — which had disappeared from public view for almost 120 years and was thought to be a copy — has sold for €860,000 ($A1,507,783.20) at auction. Le Désespoir (Despair) — which shows a female figure sitting on a rock holding one foot, with her knee hugged to her chest — was rediscovered at the end of 2024 after last being sold in 1906, French auction house Rouillac said. Rodin, who lived from 1840-1917, made several versions of Le Désespoir. This particular sculpture was modelled in 1890 and sculpted from marble in 1892-1893. Measuring just 28.5cm by 15cm by 25cm, the sculpture was originally modelled to form part of Rodin's monumental work The Gates Of Hell which features more than 200 figures and groups. The previous owners — a family from central France — had no idea of its value and had displayed the sculpture on top of a piano alongside family photos, auctioneer Aymeric Rouillac told CNN. 'They said 'it's a fake, it's a copy',' Rouillac said, adding he nevertheless decided to investigate further. The details of this sculpture are striking, Rouillac told CNN. 'The back, the muscles, they are perfect,' he said. 'You can feel every vertebra in the spinal column.' Following his own investigation, Rouillac took the sculpture for assessment by the Comité Rodin, which maintains a catalogue of the artist's work. The detail on one of the feet of the sculpture. Credit: Guillaume Souvant/AFP via Getty Images Comité Rodin founder Jérôme Le Blay told CNN he was immediately struck by the 'exceptional' piece. 'I realised in a second that it was real,' he said. 'I had absolutely no doubt.' This particular example is 'extremely well made,' Le Blay said, adding it dates back to a period when Rodin was dedicating a huge amount of time to making a small number of sculptures. Rodin would have worked with assistants who would have carried out the initial work on a piece of marble, before he performed the final stages, he explained. According to Le Blay, the sculpture dates to 'one of the best moments of Rodin's career' before his growing fame meant he started to produce more and more works after the turn of the century. Upon his death, Rodin left his works to the Musée Rodin in Paris, as well as granting it permission to continue producing his bronze sculptures. While many of these posthumous bronzes go under the hammer each year, marbles are much harder to find, Le Blay said. Most of Rodin's marbles are owned by the Musée Rodin or by other large museums around the world. 'Marbles in private collections are rare,' he said, adding this piece has a 'kind of magic' due to the fact it has reappeared for sale after such a long time. In a 'passionate' auction, the top bid was made by a young banker from the US West Coast, according to the auction house.
7NEWS
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
A family thought the sculpture on their piano was a ‘fake' Rodin. Now it's sold for more than $1.5 million
A sculpture by French artist Auguste Rodin — which had disappeared from public view for almost 120 years and was thought to be a copy — has sold for €860,000 ($A1,507,783.20) at auction. Le Désespoir (Despair) — which shows a female figure sitting on a rock holding one foot, with her knee hugged to her chest — was rediscovered at the end of 2024 after last being sold in 1906, French auction house Rouillac said. Rodin, who lived from 1840-1917, made several versions of Le Désespoir. This particular sculpture was modelled in 1890 and sculpted from marble in 1892-1893. Measuring just 28.5cm by 15cm by 25cm, the sculpture was originally modelled to form part of Rodin's monumental work The Gates Of Hell which features more than 200 figures and groups. The previous owners — a family from central France — had no idea of its value and had displayed the sculpture on top of a piano alongside family photos, auctioneer Aymeric Rouillac told CNN. 'They said 'it's a fake, it's a copy',' Rouillac said, adding he nevertheless decided to investigate further. The details of this sculpture are striking, Rouillac told CNN. 'The back, the muscles, they are perfect,' he said. 'You can feel every vertebra in the spinal column.' Following his own investigation, Rouillac took the sculpture for assessment by the Comité Rodin, which maintains a catalogue of the artist's work. Comité Rodin founder Jérôme Le Blay told CNN he was immediately struck by the 'exceptional' piece. 'I realised in a second that it was real,' he said. 'I had absolutely no doubt.' This particular example is 'extremely well made,' Le Blay said, adding it dates back to a period when Rodin was dedicating a huge amount of time to making a small number of sculptures. Rodin would have worked with assistants who would have carried out the initial work on a piece of marble, before he performed the final stages, he explained. According to Le Blay, the sculpture dates to 'one of the best moments of Rodin's career' before his growing fame meant he started to produce more and more works after the turn of the century. Upon his death, Rodin left his works to the Musée Rodin in Paris, as well as granting it permission to continue producing his bronze sculptures. While many of these posthumous bronzes go under the hammer each year, marbles are much harder to find, Le Blay said. Most of Rodin's marbles are owned by the Musée Rodin or by other large museums around the world. 'Marbles in private collections are rare,' he said, adding this piece has a 'kind of magic' due to the fact it has reappeared for sale after such a long time. In a 'passionate' auction, the top bid was made by a young banker from the US West Coast, according to the auction house.
Indian Express
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Rediscovery of Rodin's Despair — and lessons in rejuvenation
For years, it sat atop the family piano, a purported reproduction of a piece from Auguste Rodin's monumental The Gates of Hell. Now, the 11-inch sculpture of a woman clutching her foot, locked in an eternal posture of defeat, has pirouetted into the limelight, fetching nearly a million dollars at an auction in France after it was outed as the real thing: Rodin's Le Désespoir (Despair). Created in 1890 and last sold in 1906, it was only rediscovered when the auctioneer chanced upon what the family thought was a fake last year. With the authentication, it has become a windfall for its unsuspecting owners. The course of art history, of course, is not entirely new to such serendipitous events. Róbert Berény's Sleeping Lady with Black Vase, a 1927-28 art deco portrait of his wife, Eta, was rediscovered in 2009 when historian Gergely Barki spotted it in the background of the movie Stuart Little during a Christmas watch with his daughter. The painting, thought to be lost, had been picked up by a set designer from an antique shop in California and found its way into the movie as a prop. Vincent Van Gogh's unsigned Sunset at Montmajour from Norwegian industrialist Christian Nicolai Mustad's private collection had been left to languish in the estate attic after being dismissed as a forgery. Discovered after Mustad's death, it was finally authenticated in 2013. Misplaced, mislabelled, folded into the fabric of the everyday, forgotten in time, such stories reveal art's stubborn endurance and its implicit ability to thaw into rapture. In literature, for instance, Franz Kafka, convinced of his own futility, had requested that his writings be destroyed after his death. That his friend Max Brod demurred turned Kafka's anguish into modernist gold. What Despair's reversal in fortune shows, then, is that genius mislaid is not genius lost. And that sometimes, the divide between gloom and glory is as fragile as a fleeting glance. In the right light — and with the right eye — despair may yet delight.
