Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Shares Down 5.7% Following Analyst Downgrade

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) traded down 5.7% during mid-day trading on Wednesday after TD Cowen lowered their price target on the stock from $251.00 to $245.00. TD Cowen currently has a buy rating on the stock. Universal Health Services traded as low as $209.03 and last traded at $209.0790. 438,264 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 37% from the average session volume of 695,412 shares. The stock had previously closed at $221.74.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. Morgan Stanley set a $233.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Wells Fargo & Company restated an “equal weight” rating and issued a $235.00 target price (down previously from $259.00) on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday. Wall Street Zen upgraded Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, October 11th. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $250.00 to $263.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Monday, December 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $234.20.

Insider Activity at Universal Health Services

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Elliot J. Md Mba Sussman sold 965 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $225.70, for a total transaction of $217,800.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 6,113 shares in the company, valued at $1,379,704.10. This represents a 13.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,817 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $223.30, for a total transaction of $852,336.10. Following the transaction, the director owned 8,481 shares in the company, valued at $1,893,807.30. The trade was a 31.04% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 16.40% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 320.0% in the 3rd quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 126 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 96 shares during the last quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services in the third quarter valued at about $28,000. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC acquired a new position in Universal Health Services during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 94.0% in the 3rd quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 163 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 79 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MUFG Securities EMEA plc acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the second quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 5.6%

The business’s fifty day moving average price is $227.43 and its 200 day moving average price is $200.47. The company has a market cap of $13.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.70 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 0.96.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The health services provider reported $5.69 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.66 by $1.03. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.47% and a net margin of 8.09%.The company had revenue of $4.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.32 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $3.71 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 13.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Investors of record on Monday, December 1st were paid a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 1st. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.4%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is presently 3.80%.

About Universal Health Services

Universal Health Services, Inc (NYSE: UHS) is one of the largest diversified health care management companies in the United States, offering a broad spectrum of services through its acute care hospital and behavioral health segments. The company operates general acute care hospitals, surgical hospitals and ambulatory centers, as well as inpatient and outpatient behavioral health facilities. Its network provides emergency and specialized medicine, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, advanced surgical care and rehabilitation, complemented by a comprehensive array of behavioral services including psychiatric treatment, addiction programs and developmental disabilities care.

In the acute care segment, UHS’s facilities deliver services ranging from emergency department treatment and intensive care to maternity care and outpatient surgery.