Jul 17, 2018

UnitedHealth Group is raking in profits

Bob Herman

UnitedHealth Group's headquarters in Minnesota. Photo: UnitedHealth

UnitedHealth Group posted another quarter above expectations, banking a $2.9 billion profit in the second quarter on more than $56 billion of revenue. The $2.9 billion in earnings was 28% higher than the same period last year.

Between the lines: The conglomerate continues to control more of the domestic and global health economy and is reaping huge amounts of cash in the process. But Wall Street actually sold off UnitedHealth's stock Tuesday because medical costs on the health insurance side were a shade higher than expected.

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Ina Fried

Exclusive: Global trust in the tech industry is slipping

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

The backlash against Big Tech has long flourished among pundits and policymakers, but a new survey suggests it's beginning to show up in popular opinion as well.

Driving the news: New data from Edelman out Tuesday finds that trust in tech companies is declining and that people trust cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence less than they do the industry overall.

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Marisa Fernandez

"It was 30 years ago, get over it": Mike Bloomberg's partner brushes off NDA concerns

Diana Taylor at a Mike Bloomberg event last month. Photo: Ron Adar/Echoes Wire/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Diana Taylor, Mike Bloomberg's longtime partner, dismissed the concerns surrounding non-disclosure agreements used at his company, Bloomberg LP, telling CBS News that she would say to those bothered by the allegations, "It was 30 years ago, get over it."

Why it matters: Democratic candidates have used the NDAs as a talking point against Bloomberg, calling on him to allow women to speak about the reported sexual harassment and gender discrimination they faced while working for him.

Go deeperArrow27 mins ago - Politics & Policy
Dan Primack

Trump's opportunity to use Bernie as an economic scapegoat

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photos: Zach Gibson/Stringer, The Washington Post/Getty Contributor

Bernie Sanders is poised to become an economic scapegoat for both the White House and Corporate America, assuming that Sanders comes through Super Tuesday unscathed.

The big picture: If the U.S. economy remains strong, President Trump and CEOs will claim credit (as they've been doing for three years). If it turns sour, they'll blame Bernie (even though it's a largely baseless charge).

Go deeperArrow1 hour ago - Politics & Policy