Analysts Set Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Target Price at $230.75

Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) have received an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the fifteen brokerages that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, seven have given a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $228.38.

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on UHS. Stephens boosted their price target on Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, February 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $226.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $271.00 to $249.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total value of $179,160.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 7,916 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,418,230.56. This represents a 11.22 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in UHS. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 8,518 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $1,951,000 after buying an additional 296 shares in the last quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. raised its position in Universal Health Services by 41.8% in the third quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,485 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $340,000 after acquiring an additional 438 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in Universal Health Services by 1.9% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 603,705 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $138,254,000 after acquiring an additional 11,353 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services in the 3rd quarter valued at about $308,000. Finally, Cerity Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 86.4% in the 3rd quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 21,047 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $4,820,000 after purchasing an additional 9,755 shares in the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of UHS stock opened at $188.27 on Tuesday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $181.98 and a two-hundred day moving average of $196.66. The firm has a market cap of $12.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.52, a P/E/G ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.32. Universal Health Services has a 1-year low of $152.69 and a 1-year high of $243.25. 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 Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.21 by $0.71. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The business had revenue of $4.11 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.01 billion. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd were given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.42%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 4.75%.

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.