Operator
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by and welcome to the UnitedHealth Group first-quarter 2021 earnings conference call. At this time, all participants are on a listen-only mode. After the speakers presentation, there will be a question-and-answer session. [Operator instructions] And now I d like to introduce your host for today s program, Andrew Witty.
Please go ahead, sir.
Chief Executive Officer
Good morning, and thank you for joining us to discuss our first-quarter results and positive outlook as we continue to execute on UnitedHealth Group s long-standing mission and strategies. The exceptional dedication of the people of Optum and UnitedHealthcare again defined this period. They ve adapted swiftly and creatively to demand in unrapidly changing circumstances, implemented new ideas, and importantly remain focused on serving people exceptionally well. As a result, adjusted earnings per share were $5.31, reflecting strong execution at both UnitedHealthcare a