Key Takeaways UnitedHealth Group shares surged Friday after Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway revealed a stake in the embattled healthcare giant.After bottoming at the start of August, the stock has continued to gain momentum,

Year to date, the stock has fallen by nearly 45%, which is by no means normal for the healthcare stock. In fact, this is the worst it has performed since the Great Recession, when it tumbled by more than 54% in 2008.

UnitedHealth Group ( UNH 12.04%) has been a solid dividend growth stock for years. Generally, its yield has been fairly low, due to the stock's rising value. Even as the healthcare insurance giant has grown its dividend, its yield hasn't been particularly high or noteworthy.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened at its first all-time high of the year on Friday as shares of health care giant UnitedHealth Group soared.

UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH) shares edged up on Monday, even as the stock remains down roughly 49% year to date. Trading volume stood at 6.39 million shares, well below the 100-day average of 20.

Berkshire Hathaway’s UnitedHealth Group Incorporated investment highlights confidence in healthcare. Click for why I am bullish on UNH stock prospects.

U.S. equities were mixed at midday following the release of the July retail sales report, which came in as expected.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average and other major stock indexes traded sharply mixed Friday as Wall Street reacted to the U.S. retail sales report. Meanwhile, UnitedHealth GroupUNH soared on the stock market today after famed investor Warren Buffett disclosed a new position.