While the "vote of confidence" from Buffett's investment validates the long-term value of UnitedHealth shares, the "management needs to regain trust and credibility with investors, and get back to its beat and raise reputation of the past," said James Harlow, senior vice president at Novare Capital Management.

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) sold shares in Apple (AAPL) last quarter, while adding UnitedHealth to its portfolio.

UnitedHealth missed Wall Street's earnings target for two straight quarters this year and was forced to pull back its 2025 outlook in May, rare moves for a company that had long been favored for its ...