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

Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) have been given an average rating of “Moderate Buy” by the fifteen ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, seven have assigned a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $228.38.

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $226.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. Barclays decreased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $271.00 to $249.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Morgan Stanley started coverage on Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $200.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Stephens boosted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, February 28th.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of Universal Health Services stock opened at $186.27 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $181.89 and its 200-day moving average price is $197.67. The firm has a market cap of $12.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.39, a P/E/G ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.32. Universal Health Services has a 12 month low of $152.69 and a 12 month high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.21 by $0.71. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The company had revenue of $4.11 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.01 billion. On average, equities research analysts expect that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.43%. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is 4.75%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total value of $179,160.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 7,916 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,418,230.56. This represents a 11.22 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of UHS. R Squared Ltd acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Quent Capital LLC raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 118.3% during the fourth quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 179 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC acquired a new position in Universal Health Services during the third quarter valued at $39,000. Campbell Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter valued at $46,000. Finally, Huntington National Bank boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 55.6% in the fourth quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 280 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $50,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other 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.