UnitedHealth Affirms Fiscal View, Gives '12 Forecast

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) on Monday provided financial projections for next year that just met Wall Street expectations, and reaffirmed its fiscal 2011 view.

The world’s largest health insurer forecast earnings in the range of $4.55 to $4.75 a share for 2012. Analysts in a Thomson Reuters poll are predicting on average $4.75.

The company, which said the estimates don’t include its pending acquisition of XLHealth Corp, sees sales between $107 billion and $108 billion, below the Street’s view of $108.5 billion.

The Minnetonka, Minn.-based company backed its 2011 guidance between $4.52 and $4.57 a share, which is in line with Wall Street’s $4.55.

The view comes a day before the company's annual investor conference, where it’s expected to give greater details into its long-term outlook, and a month after the company warned it may face “considerable” challenges ahead, including a slide in the broader economy and price competition.