Yahoo! finance: Doctor, patients protest as UnitedHealth announces 2024 profits Protesters stood outside the New York Stock Exchange with a sign that read “UnitedHealth denies care.”
NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) – A small group of protesters took to Wall Street Thursday as UnitedHealth Group released a financial report showing better-than-expected profit in the final quarter of 2024.
Around 9 a.m., about a dozen protesters stood outside the New York Stock Exchange with a sign that read “UnitedHealth denies care.”
Who was Brian Thompson, the UnitedHealthcare CEO?
“Right now, [UnitedHealth Group] has announced their quarterly earnings,” said Cate Readling of The People’s Lobby. “They and other profiteers report to investors with pride that they have fleeced us.”
It comes just over a month after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed in a Midtown shooting authorities said was targeted.
The shooting caught the nation’s attention as the suspected killer, later identified as Luigi Mangione, went on the lam. Now, it has reinvigorated national conversations about healthcare costs.
“Each year, private insurers like UnitedHealth deny care to millions, forcing individuals to face delayed treatments, financial ruin, and life-threatening uncertainty,” said organizers with the People’s Action Institute.
UnitedHealth leaders opened a call with analysts Thursday morning by offering thanks for condolences the company has received since Thompson’s death.
“Brian helped build this company and forged deep, trusted relationships for over 20 years, and the positive impact he had on people will be felt for years to come,” Chief Financial Officer John Rex said.
The company’s net income rose slightly to $5.54 billion in the final quarter of 2024.
Adjusted results totaled $6.81 per share. The company’s revenue climbed about 7% to $100.8 billion, which missed expectations.
The company’s full-year profit, which had climbed every year for nearly a decade, sank 36% to $14.4 billion in 2024.