As some federal lawmakers shed millions in UnitedHealth stock amid investigations and financial turmoil, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway is betting big on the embattled healthcare conglomerate.
Lawmakers from both parties sold as much as $1.2 million in UnitedHealth stock against $950,000 in purchases this year, Politico reported Aug. 21. The sell-offs came as the company confirmed federal civil and criminal investigations into its Medicare Advantage business.
In contrast, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway disclosed in an Aug. 14 regulatory filing a new $1.6 billion stake in UnitedHealth, purchasing more than 5 million shares during the second quarter. The company’s stock has fallen nearly 50% in 2025, making it the worst performer in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, but shares jumped 13% upon the news of Berkshire’s investment.
UnitedHealth has been working to stabilize investor confidence while navigating the financial turbulence, leadership changes and ongoing investigations at the Justice Department. The company completed its $3.3 billion acquisition of home health and hospice provider Amedisys on Aug. 14 and appointed a new lead independent director and public responsibility committee Aug. 20 to monitor financial, regulatory and reputational risks.
CEO Stephen Hemsley, who took over after former CEO Andrew Witty’s departure earlier this year, told investors July 29 that UnitedHealth has made “pricing and operational mistakes” and is shifting to a “tone of change and reform.” In April, the company revised its 2025 earnings outlook, before suspending its forecast entirely in May over rising care costs. UnitedHealth is now projecting at least $14.65 in net earnings per share and total annual revenue between $444.5 billion and $448 billion.
The scrutiny and stock whiplash comes after a series of crises for UnitedHealth, including the late-2024 killing of former UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the Change Healthcare cyberattack, which disrupted claims processing nationwide.
