Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Stock Price Expected to Rise, Wells Fargo & Company Analyst Says

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) had its price objective hoisted by equities researchers at Wells Fargo & Company from $275.00 to $285.00 in a report issued on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an “overweight” rating on the health services provider’s stock. Wells Fargo & Company‘s target price suggests a potential upside of 36.74% from the company’s current price.

Several other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on UHS. Bank of America started coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 price target for the company. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on Universal Health Services from $236.00 to $274.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th. StockNews.com lowered Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. TD Cowen decreased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $283.00 to $275.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 28th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $219.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $231.14.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 2.4 %

Shares of Universal Health Services stock opened at $208.43 on Wednesday. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $225.03 and its 200 day moving average is $203.48. Universal Health Services has a one year low of $127.43 and a one year high of $243.25. The firm has a market cap of $13.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.86, a PEG ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.75 by ($0.04). The business had revenue of $3.96 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.90 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. Universal Health Services’s quarterly revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.55 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services will post 15.89 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services announced that its board has approved a stock buyback plan on Wednesday, July 24th that permits the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the health services provider to reacquire up to 8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are generally an indication that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $217.64, for a total value of $749,552.16. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,971 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $864,248.44. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 5.2% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 3,120 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $569,000 after acquiring an additional 153 shares during the period. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services in the first quarter worth $46,000. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 8.6% in the first quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 6,006 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $1,096,000 after buying an additional 474 shares during the period. Leuthold Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at $3,878,000. Finally, Empirical Finance LLC lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.1% during the 1st quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 2,455 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $448,000 after buying an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Company Profile

Universal Health Services, Inc, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates acute care hospitals, and outpatient and behavioral health care facilities. It operates through Acute Care Hospital Services and Behavioral Health Care Services segments. The company's hospitals offer general and specialty surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics, emergency room care, radiology, oncology, diagnostic and coronary care, pediatric services, pharmacy services, and/or behavioral health services.