Welcome to Seeking Alpha's Wall Street Lunch, our afternoon update on today's market action, news, and analysis.

Good afternoon. Today is Tuesday, July 29th, and I'm your host Kim Khan. Our top story so far. United Health shares continue to struggle after the company issued fresh outlook for 2025, indicating revenue and adjusted earnings below street forecasts

amid a sharp increase in its medical expenses.

The stock in the Red Today has lost more than half its value

since it warned on Outlook in April

and since faced a series of negative headlines,

including the abrupt departure of its CEO

and a probe into its Medicare business.

With its Q2 results, which missed on the bottom line, the company projected EPS of $16 on revenue of $445.5 billion to $448 billion.

Analysts were looking for EPS of 2090 and revenue of $449.07 billion.

UNH attributed the cost increase to medical cost trends that sharply outweighed pricing trends

and an ongoing impact of Medicare funding reductions.

New CEO Stephen Hensley said,

United Health Group has embarked on a rigorous path back to being a high-performing company

fully serving the health needs of individuals and society broadly.

UNH reported 11.6 billion in revenue for the quarter, up about 13% annually, and in line with street forecasts, thanks mainly to its insurance unit, United Healthcare, and Optum Division.

Seeking Alpha Analyst's YR research said, it's now up to management to convince investors

that this is the floor and that the legal and fraud allegations are insignificant.

Also in the healthcare sector, Novo Nordisk is tumbling after the Danish drug maker lowered

its full-year outlook, citing, among other things, pressure on its obesity drug franchise

led by its GLU-1 medication semaglutide.

At the same time, the company named Mazier Mike Dostar, as its new president-in-chief executive

...