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

UnitedHealth Group has reported quarterly profits of $5.5 billion after tax in its first earnings release since the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City, which sparked a wider debate about the cost of health insurance and medication for the American public.

The UnitedHealth Group leader whose murder in December unleashed a torrent of public frustration and dissatisfaction with the U.S. health care system was pushing for some of the very improvements that critics have been seeking.

In his first public comments since one of his executives was shot to death, UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty said the healthcare system “needs to function better.”

In its first results since its insurance unit CEO was fatally shot in New York City, UnitedHealth Group reported Thursday weaker-than-expected fourth-quarter revenue, prompting its shares to fall in early morning trading despite quarterly profit beating projections.