What happened Shares of Change Healthcare (NASDAQ: CHNG) had skyrocketed by 30.7% as of 12:41 p.m. EST on Wednesday. The big jump came after UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) announced plans to acquire the company in a deal valued at close to $8 billion. So what The acquisition appears to be great news for Change Healthcare shareholders. The healthcare stock rose nearly 14% in 2020 -- not bad, but still less than the S&P 500's 16% gain. Image source: Getty Images. Is the deal also a good one for the buyer? Probably. Change Healthcare will become part of UnitedHealth Group's Optum business segment. Change's software platform will fit nicely with Optum's focus on providing data and analytics solutions to healthcare organizations. UnitedHealth thinks that the acquisition will boost its adjusted earnings per share by around $0.50 in 2022. After that, the company's earnings growth should pick up significant momentum. In addition to Change's robust technology platform, UnitedHealth will also gain new team members with healthcare expertise and a track record of innovation. Notably, Change Healthcare CEO Neil de Crescenzo will become CEO of OptumInsight once the transaction closes. Now what The deal isn't completely done just yet. Change Healthcare shareholders and regulators must approve the acquisition first. UnitedHealth Group expects the transaction to close in the second half of this year. 10 stocks we like better than Change Healthcare IncWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the ten best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Change Healthcare Inc wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of November 20, 2020 Keith Speights has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends UnitedHealth Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.Source