UnitedHealth Group beat estimates for fourth quarter profit as the Eden Prairie-based health care giant released its first earnings report since the fatal ambush last month of top executive Brian Thompson in New York City.

UnitedHealth Group reported $14.4 billion in 2024 profits as its UnitedHealthcare health insurance and Optum provider services overcame rising costs and a cyberattack.

But high medical costs contributed to results that disappointed Wall Street, and the company’s stock fell on the news that it had made less than analysts expected.

The company’s shares fell in premarket trading following the healthcare firms first earnings since the killing of executive Brian Thompson.

UnitedHealth's high medical costs and lower-than-expected revenue in the fourth quarter underscored persistent challenges at its insurance unit, sending the healthcare conglomerate's shares down about 4% before the bell on Thursday.