Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Sets New 52-Week High on Analyst Upgrade

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)’s share price hit a new 52-week high on Thursday after Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on the stock from $195.00 to $200.00. Wells Fargo & Company currently has an overweight rating on the stock. Universal Health Services traded as high as $183.50 and last traded at $182.58, with a volume of 14183 shares. The stock had previously closed at $181.85.

A number of other research analysts have also issued reports on UHS. StockNews.com upgraded Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, January 8th. UBS Group lifted their price target on Universal Health Services from $152.00 to $177.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $144.00 to $182.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 13th. Cantor Fitzgerald increased their price target on Universal Health Services from $148.00 to $156.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. Finally, Mizuho upped their target price on Universal Health Services from $175.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $176.29.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CFO Steve Filton sold 35,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $176.82, for a total value of $6,188,700.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 68,785 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,162,563.70. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 15.40% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. UBS Group AG lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 51.2% in the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 62,949 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $7,915,000 after acquiring an additional 21,325 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.5% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,090,010 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $137,047,000 after buying an additional 37,243 shares in the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 4,622.3% during the third quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 16,906 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $2,125,000 after purchasing an additional 16,548 shares during the last quarter. Aigen Investment Management LP purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services in the third quarter worth approximately $466,000. Finally, Iron Triangle Partners LP bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 2nd quarter valued at about $74,152,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 0.3 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 1.40 and a quick ratio of 1.29. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $166.90 and its 200 day moving average price is $147.15. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.73, a P/E/G ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 1.23.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 27th. The health services provider reported $3.13 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.02 by $0.11. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 12.08% and a net margin of 5.03%. The business had revenue of $3.70 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.66 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $3.02 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 13.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Investors of record on Friday, March 1st were given a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.44%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 29th. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is currently 7.80%.

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.