Universal Health Services (UHS) to Release Earnings on Wednesday

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) will likely be releasing its earnings data after the market closes on Wednesday, February 26th. Analysts expect Universal Health Services to post earnings of $4.21 per share and revenue of $4.01 billion for the quarter. Persons that wish to register for the company’s earnings conference call can do so using this link.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 0.9 %

NYSE UHS opened at $183.11 on Wednesday. Universal Health Services has a 12 month low of $152.68 and a 12 month high of $243.25. The stock has a market cap of $12.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.18, a P/E/G ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 1.30. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $184.62 and its 200-day moving average price is $206.71. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 3rd will be paid a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.44%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 5.32%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have recently commented on UHS. TD Cowen cut their target price on Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, November 26th. StockNews.com downgraded Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, November 9th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on Universal Health Services from $222.00 to $211.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 28th. Bank of America initiated coverage on Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Barclays upped their price target on Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $226.14.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total transaction of $308,516.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 5,879 shares in the company, valued at $1,123,770.85. This trade represents a 21.54 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

About Universal Health Services

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.