Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Receives $226.14 Average Target Price from Analysts

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) has been assigned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the sixteen brokerages that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $226.14.

UHS has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. StockNews.com downgraded Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, November 9th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $219.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $226.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday, December 17th. Finally, KeyCorp began coverage on Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 11th. They issued a “sector weight” rating on the stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total transaction of $308,516.10. Following the sale, the director now owns 5,879 shares in the company, valued at $1,123,770.85. This represents a 21.54 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 16.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Financial Management Professionals Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 3rd quarter valued at about $32,000. True Wealth Design LLC purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $39,000. Huntington National Bank raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 414.3% during the 3rd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 145 shares in the last quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 41.8% during the 2nd quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 251 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $46,000 after buying an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sentry Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $64,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 3.8 %

Universal Health Services stock opened at $183.08 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $12.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.60 and a beta of 1.30. Universal Health Services has a 52 week low of $150.11 and a 52 week high of $243.25. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $192.69 and its 200 day moving average price is $207.48. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.75 by ($0.04). The business had revenue of $3.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.90 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.55 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services will post 15.88 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 3rd were issued a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 3rd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.44%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is presently 5.32%.

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.