Stock Movers: UnitedHealth Plunges, Northrop & RTX Gain on Quarterly Earnings

UnitedHealth's Revenue Forecast and Policy Risks

• 📉 UnitedHealth (UNH) shares experienced a significant drop, marking their biggest single-day decline since mid-April and lowest closing price since August.
• ⚠️ This downturn is attributed to the company forecasting a decline in 2026 revenue, the first annual contraction in over three decades.
• 🏥 UnitedHealth is also facing policy headwinds, with the US proposing to keep payments to private Medicare plans flat for the upcoming year.

Northrop Grumman's Mixed Results and Record Backlog

• 📊 Northrop Grumman (NOC) reported mixed results, with fourth-quarter income rising 17% to $1.27 million, exceeding estimates.
• 📈 The company's order backlog reached a record $95.7 billion, driven by awards for the F-35 fighter jet and Virginia class submarines.
• 🎯 This backlog growth is spurred by increased global defense spending amid heightened geopolitical tensions.

RTX Shows Momentum Despite Past Criticism

• 🚀 RTX shares gained 2% following their quarterly earnings report, with fourth-quarter adjusted EPS of $1.55 surpassing estimates.
• 💰 Sales increased across the company's primary aerospace and defense units, indicating positive momentum.
• ✅ RTX CEO Chris Calio is backing the company's dividend plan, despite past criticism from President Donald Trump regarding weapons output and shareholder returns.