Universal Health Services, Inc. Forecasted to Post FY2024 Earnings of $15.60 Per Share (NYSE:UHS)

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) – Research analysts at KeyCorp issued their FY2024 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Universal Health Services in a report issued on Thursday, October 10th. KeyCorp analyst M. Gillmor anticipates that the health services provider will post earnings per share of $15.60 for the year. KeyCorp currently has a “Sector Weight” rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Universal Health Services’ current full-year earnings is $15.91 per share. KeyCorp also issued estimates for Universal Health Services’ FY2025 earnings at $17.36 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $19.48 EPS.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The health services provider reported $4.31 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.37 by $0.94. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 6.22%. The firm had revenue of $3.91 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.87 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.53 EPS. Universal Health Services’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.1% on a year-over-year basis.

Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. Baird R W raised Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, June 26th. StockNews.com downgraded Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday. Stephens reaffirmed an “equal weight” rating and set a $200.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Thursday, July 25th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on Universal Health Services from $189.00 to $222.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a report on Monday, September 9th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Universal Health Services currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $224.92.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 0.7 %

UHS opened at $214.33 on Monday. Universal Health Services has a 12 month low of $119.90 and a 12 month high of $243.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.16, a PEG ratio of 0.70 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.28 and a quick ratio of 1.17. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $227.50 and a 200 day moving average price of $197.46.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Van ECK Associates Corp increased its position in Universal Health Services by 4.2% during the 2nd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 1,160 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $215,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares during the period. LRI Investments LLC increased its position in Universal Health Services by 19.5% during the 2nd quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 386 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $71,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares during the period. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Universal Health Services by 11.4% during the 1st quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC now owns 624 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $114,000 after purchasing an additional 64 shares during the period. Mather Group LLC. increased its position in Universal Health Services by 31.6% during the 3rd quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 283 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $65,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares during the period. Finally, Empirical Finance LLC increased its position in Universal Health Services by 3.1% during the 1st quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 2,455 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $448,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $217.64, for a total value of $749,552.16. Following the transaction, the director now owns 3,971 shares in the company, valued at $864,248.44. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, Director Nina Chen-Langenmayr sold 850 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.11, for a total value of $180,293.50. Following the transaction, the director now owns 1,985 shares in the company, valued at $421,038.35. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $217.64, for a total value of $749,552.16. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 3,971 shares in the company, valued at $864,248.44. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 21,970 shares of company stock valued at $4,653,535. Insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd were issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.37%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 3rd. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is currently 6.78%.

Universal Health Services announced that its board has authorized a share repurchase program on Wednesday, July 24th that permits the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the health services provider to buy up to 8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are generally an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

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.