AgentFlareNewswire · Earnings · Wed, Oct 14, 2026
UnitedHealth beats Q3 estimates and lifts 2026 profit outlook to at least $20.50
UnitedHealth reported third-quarter adjusted EPS of $4.69, up from $2.92 a year earlier, and raised its 2026 forecast to at least $20.50 a share. Big-bank earnings season opened with a JPMorgan miss and a Goldman Sachs beat.
You're reading the full report — free for humans and search engines.
The same content ships as a structured JSON dataset (normalized facts, sources and
citation arrays, no HTML parsing) so AI agents can consume it directly — metered per fetch via the open
HTTP 402 payment protocol.
crawlerAutoPrice=true · verify at https://esa.aisa.one/api/v1/access/verify
UnitedHealth beats on lower medical costs, raises 2026 forecast
UnitedHealth Group posted third-quarter adjusted earnings of $4.69 per share, against $2.92 a year earlier and analyst estimates of about $4.14 per Reuters. Revenue slipped 0.4% to $112.7 billion. The adjusted medical care ratio was 88.4%, helped by pricing discipline, benefit design changes and a $610 million reserve benefit. The insurer now expects 2026 adjusted EPS of at least $20.50, up from at least $19.50 to $20. CFO Wayne DeVeydt said consensus for 2027 may understate the opportunity, and he targeted the lower end of a 13% to 16% long-term growth range. Shares jumped as much as 5% before trimming gains.
Why it mattersA third guidance increase this year and a 2027 growth signal support the view that UnitedHealth's margin recovery is durable, even with shrinking membership and revenue.
JPMorgan misses profit estimate despite 8% revenue growth
JPMorgan Chase reported third-quarter profit of $15.3 billion, up 6% from a year earlier, or $5.57 per share, short of the $5.90 analysts expected. Net revenue rose 8% to $50.2 billion. A $658 million securities loss weighed on results; excluding it, earnings were $5.75 per share. Trading revenue rose 15% to $10.3 billion, slightly below expectations, and dealmaking fees climbed 14%, though both fell from the prior quarter. The bank raised its full-year net interest income guidance by $1 billion to $97.5 billion and pointed to $107 billion for 2027. CEO Jamie Dimon cited sticky inflation, rising rates and geopolitical risk.
Why it mattersA rare miss from the largest US bank, with trading and deal revenue below the prior quarter, sets a cautious tone for the rest of bank earnings.
Goldman Sachs tops forecasts on record advisory fees and equities surge
Goldman Sachs reported third-quarter diluted EPS of $17.01 against a consensus of $13.65, on revenue of $18.68 billion versus the $17.03 billion estimate. Equities revenue reached $6.44 billion, up 72% from a year earlier, driven by prime and portfolio financing and derivatives. Advisory fees hit a record $1.65 billion as completed mergers increased. Asset and Wealth Management revenue rose 14% to $5.05 billion. CEO David Solomon described the quarter as the second highest for net revenues, with record year-to-date net revenues. Shares rose 1% to $904.09 in early trading.
Why it mattersGoldman's equities and advisory strength contrasts with JPMorgan's softer trading and dealmaking, showing results diverging across big banks.
Wells Fargo falls 3% on revenue; financials ETF edges higher
Wells Fargo shares dropped 3% to $81.08 in early trading after third-quarter 2026 revenue of $21.87 billion disappointed investors. The decline came while the Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF rose 1% to $55.62. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust slipped 0.1% to $777.41, leaving financials ahead of the broader market. JPMorgan shares were roughly unchanged at $334.39 in the same session, while Goldman Sachs gained, so the first day of bank earnings produced mixed stock reactions.
Why it mattersStock reactions are splitting by bank, so revenue quality and trading exposure may matter more than headline beats as other lenders report this week.
Bank of America to report Wednesday with a 16-quarter EPS streak at stake
Bank of America is due to report third-quarter results Wednesday before the market opens. Benzinga Pro data shows analysts expecting revenue of $30.69 billion, up from $28.24 billion a year earlier, and EPS of $1.11, up from $1.06. The bank has beaten EPS estimates for 16 straight quarters and revenue estimates in four straight. Its shares are down in 2026, and several analysts have lowered price targets, including Evercore ISI and Truist Securities, both to $62. Freedom Capital Markets' Jay Woods said investors will focus on rates, IPOs and the health of the consumer.
Why it mattersBank of America's report will show whether credit quality and capital markets revenue hold up, a test of the case for financials leading equities into the fourth quarter.
Data behind the stories
Before the reports, UNH closed at $378.52 on 2026-10-12, down 0.21% on the day and down 0.15% over about a month. JPM closed at $334.3, up 0.39% on the day but down 6.16% over about a month. GS closed at $893.95, down 0.15% on the day and down 13.14% over about a month.
What to watch
- Bank of America reports third-quarter results Wednesday before the open; analysts expect EPS of $1.11 and revenue of $30.69 billion. Benzinga
- PNC Financial Services is gearing up to report third-quarter 2026 results, with sequential net interest income growth expected. TradingView
- UnitedHealth said formal 2027 Medicare Advantage membership guidance will come later, with growth focused on special needs and HMO plans. GuruFocus
Key takeaways
- UnitedHealth raised 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to at least $20.50 after Q3 EPS of $4.69, helped by a lower medical care ratio of 88.4%.
- JPMorgan missed at $5.57 per share versus $5.90 expected, while Goldman Sachs beat with EPS of $17.01 against $13.65.
- Bank earnings are diverging: Wells Fargo fell 3% on revenue, and Bank of America reports Wednesday before the open.
FAQ
What is UnitedHealth's new 2026 earnings forecast?
UnitedHealth now expects 2026 adjusted earnings of at least $20.50 per share, up from its prior forecast of at least $19.50 to $20. Reuters said that is above the $19.86 analysts had estimated, according to LSEG data.
Did JPMorgan beat third-quarter earnings estimates?
No. JPMorgan earned $5.57 per share, short of the $5.90 analysts forecast. Excluding a $658 million securities loss, it earned $5.75 per share. Net revenue rose 8% to $50.2 billion.
When does Bank of America report third-quarter earnings?
Bank of America is scheduled to report Wednesday before the market opens. Analysts expect EPS of $1.11 and revenue of $30.69 billion, according to Benzinga Pro data.
The wire
Every item considered for this digest, newest first — published within 48h of 2026-10-14 00:42 UTC.
- Cloudflare Announces Date of Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results finance.yahoo.com · 2026-10-13 20:00
- UnitedHealth Group Inc (UNH) (Q3 2026) Earnings Call Highlights: GuruFocus · 2026-10-13 18:35
- Goldman Sachs: Not The Same Bank It Was Some Years Ago (Earnings Review) (NYSE:GS) Seeking Alpha · 2026-10-13 17:47
- Bank of America Q3 Preview: Stock Down in 2026, Could 5th Straight Double Beat Change Momentum? Benzinga · 2026-10-13 16:57
- UnitedHealth Group stock trims gains on profit outlook increase Yahoo Finance · 2026-10-13 16:33
- JPMorgan posts rare profit miss as dealmaking, bond trading lose momentum Reuters · 2026-10-13 16:13
- UNH Tops Q3 Earnings on Lower Medical Costs, Raises '26 Outlook TradingView · 2026-10-13 16:06
- JPMorgan profit misses analyst estimates as Jamie Dimon warns economic forces 'shift under the surface' Yahoo Finance · 2026-10-13 15:42
- BAC vs. PNC: Which Bank Stock Is a Better Bet Ahead of Q3 Earnings? TradingView · 2026-10-13 15:33
- UnitedHealth raises profit forecast as turnaround efforts gather pace Reuters · 2026-10-13 14:10
- Goldman Sachs Rises on Equities-Led Earnings Beat; JPMorgan Chase Treads Water, Wells Fargo Declines 3% 24/7 Wall St. · 2026-10-13 14:07
- Johnson and Johnson Earnings Report jnj.com · 2026-10-13 10:33
How this digest is made. Headlines and article text come from the AISA Financial News and Tavily APIs; only items published in the last 48 hours are eligible, and duplicates across outlets are merged. A language model writes the summaries strictly from those texts and the live market data shown — every story links to its sources. Market data: AISA Financial, CoinGecko, Polymarket and Macro APIs.
Sources & citations
- UnitedHealth Group Inc (UNH) (Q3 2026) Earnings Call Highlights: GuruFocus · 2026-10-13
- UnitedHealth Group stock trims gains on profit outlook increase Yahoo Finance · 2026-10-13
- UNH Tops Q3 Earnings on Lower Medical Costs, Raises '26 Outlook TradingView · 2026-10-13
- UnitedHealth raises profit forecast as turnaround efforts gather pace Reuters · 2026-10-13
- JPMorgan posts rare profit miss as dealmaking, bond trading lose momentum Reuters · 2026-10-13
- JPMorgan profit misses analyst estimates as Jamie Dimon warns economic forces 'shift under the surface' Yahoo Finance · 2026-10-13
- Goldman Sachs Rises on Equities-Led Earnings Beat; JPMorgan Chase Treads Water, Wells Fargo Declines 3% 24/7 Wall St. · 2026-10-13
- Goldman Sachs: Not The Same Bank It Was Some Years Ago (Earnings Review) (NYSE:GS) Seeking Alpha · 2026-10-13
- Bank of America Q3 Preview: Stock Down in 2026, Could 5th Straight Double Beat Change Momentum? Benzinga · 2026-10-13
- BAC vs. PNC: Which Bank Stock Is a Better Bet Ahead of Q3 Earnings? TradingView · 2026-10-13