Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Given Underweight Rating at Cantor Fitzgerald

Cantor Fitzgerald restated their underweight rating on shares of Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) in a research report released on Tuesday morning, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a $162.00 price objective on the health services provider’s stock.

Other analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $181.00 to $189.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, April 26th. Stephens reaffirmed an equal weight rating and set a $185.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Thursday, April 25th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $195.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, March 28th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $183.00 to $189.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 7th. Finally, TD Cowen raised their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $181.00 to $183.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $193.57.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of UHS opened at $184.72 on Tuesday. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $180.83 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $169.93. Universal Health Services has a fifty-two week low of $119.90 and a fifty-two week high of $194.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.38. The stock has a market cap of $12.36 billion, a PE ratio of 15.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.91 and a beta of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 24th. The health services provider reported $3.70 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.14 by $0.56. The business had revenue of $3.84 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.78 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 5.57% and a return on equity of 13.34%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 10.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.34 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services will post 13.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 3rd were issued a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 3rd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.43%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 6.78%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in UHS. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. bought a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter valued at about $32,000. Mather Group LLC. purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter worth approximately $36,000. Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter worth approximately $36,000. Denali Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter worth approximately $37,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth approximately $42,000. 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.