Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Receives $227.77 Consensus PT from Analysts

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) has received a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the fourteen brokerages that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $231.17.

UHS has been the topic of several analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 25th. Barclays reduced their target price on Universal Health Services from $271.00 to $249.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Stephens upped their price target on Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $226.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 1.6 %

UHS stock opened at $174.85 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $11.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.63, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.32. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $184.15 and a two-hundred day moving average of $203.91. Universal Health Services has a 12 month low of $152.68 and a 12 month high of $243.25. 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 (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.01 billion. As a group, analysts forecast that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd will be given a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.46%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is presently 4.75%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total value of $308,516.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 5,879 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,123,770.85. This trade represents a 21.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter worth about $67,964,000. Invesco Ltd. lifted its stake in Universal Health Services by 25.6% in the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,241,340 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $222,721,000 after acquiring an additional 253,385 shares during the last quarter. Amundi grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 189.5% during the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 360,070 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $68,532,000 after acquiring an additional 235,689 shares in the last quarter. Freestone Grove Partners LP purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $41,155,000. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 59.4% in the 4th quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 590,389 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $105,928,000 after purchasing an additional 219,942 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

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.