From Yahoo Finance: 2025-04-17 17:08:00

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) stock plummeted over 22% on Thursday, marking its biggest drop since 1998. The company’s profit forecast cut caused a $120 billion market cap loss, among the costliest stock routs ever. This wealth-decimating drop is rare outside the tech sector, where growth expectations can dramatically impact valuations.

The impact of UnitedHealth’s decline rippled through the stock market, affecting fellow insurers like Humana and Elevance Health. The Dow Jones Industrial Average took a hit, dropping 1.3% due to UnitedHealth’s significant contribution. The healthcare giant’s size and stability typically shield it from such drastic sell-offs, making Thursday’s crash a notable event.

In defensive sectors like healthcare, companies usually lose market value gradually over time. Pharmacy giant Walgreens Boots Alliance and cosmetics giant Estée Lauder have each seen significant value declines over the past decade. UnitedHealth’s $535 billion market cap made it one of the S&P 500’s largest companies before Thursday’s crash, showcasing the magnitude of the loss.

UnitedHealth’s unexpected profit forecast cut led to its worst day since 1998, causing a massive market cap loss and impacting the broader stock market. The company’s stability and size typically shield it from such drastic sell-offs, making Thursday’s events particularly noteworthy.



Read more at Yahoo Finance: UnitedHealth Loses $120 Billion in Value on Stock’s Worst Day Since 1998