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Handling the Headline

As the plot thickens for an embattled stock, it's important to understand the strategy.
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I know everyone hates UnitedHealth Group (UNH) by now. I can't blame you. The action is horrible and the stock stinks. But the overreaction to this informal inquiry by the Securities and Exchange Commission is ridiculous. Of course the SEC is going to look in to the company's stock option granting practices; it would as a matter of course.

But what's far more important in the disclosure is that the company quantified the downside, which is just a pennies-per-share restatement from the possibility that the options will be invalidated. That's good news. I thought it could be much larger.

UnitedHealth's board has hired Bill McLucas, the head of SEC enforcement during the Clinton years and a real tough guy, to examine the options issuance in question. That investigation will take time, because McLucas will not be hurried. The SEC will take its cue from McLucas because he is very respected in Washington.

I believe the stock continues to trade crazily -- right now it's at $44.51, down more than 3% on the day -- but that this news is simply not a surprise. As I said Wednesday, the sellers aren't done, it's just that the brokers were able to offload some of the stock that large holders had stuck them with.

One day it will matter that this 17% grower sells at 14 times earnings. I just don't know when. In the meantime, I am holding and waiting for that day.

Regards,

James J. Cramer

DISCLOSURE: At the time of publication, Cramer was long UnitedHealth Group.

Send email to james.cramer@thestreet.com.