Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Receives Average Rating of “Hold” from Brokerages

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) has been given a consensus rating of “Hold” by the eighteen analysts that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, twelve have assigned a hold recommendation and five have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $212.8750.

Several research analysts have weighed in on UHS shares. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, May 2nd. Guggenheim decreased their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $238.00 to $211.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 29th. Mizuho lowered their price objective on Universal Health Services from $267.00 to $230.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. TD Cowen dropped their target price on Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $197.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, June 22nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company began coverage on Universal Health Services in a research report on Monday, June 1st. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $165.00 target price on the stock.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 0.0%

NYSE UHS opened at $155.56 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. Universal Health Services has a 52 week low of $140.08 and a 52 week high of $246.32. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $154.24 and a 200-day moving average price of $184.69. The company has a market cap of $9.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.48, a P/E/G ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 1.07.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $5.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.41 by $0.21. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.57% and a net margin of 8.56%.The company had revenue of $4.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.39 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $4.84 EPS. Universal Health Services’s quarterly revenue was up 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts expect that Universal Health Services will post 23.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 8th were issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 8th. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is currently 3.33%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter worth about $199,334,000. Pzena Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 31.5% in the 4th quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 2,112,604 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $460,590,000 after buying an additional 505,575 shares during the last quarter. Nomura Holdings Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 100.6% in the second quarter. Nomura Holdings Inc. now owns 2,560 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $464,000 after acquiring an additional 426,211 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley increased its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 59.5% during the fourth quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 871,377 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $189,978,000 after acquiring an additional 325,162 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Holocene Advisors LP lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 262.4% during the third quarter. Holocene Advisors LP now owns 358,885 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $73,370,000 after acquiring an additional 259,861 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.