Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Issues Quarterly Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.58 EPS

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The health services provider reported $3.70 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.12 by $0.58, Briefing.com reports. The company had revenue of $3.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.78 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 12.08% and a net margin of 5.03%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.34 earnings per share.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE UHS opened at $165.84 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $11.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.16, a PEG ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a current ratio of 1.40, a quick ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. Universal Health Services has a 12-month low of $119.90 and a 12-month high of $183.61. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $170.50 and its 200-day simple moving average is $153.01.

Insider Activity

In other news, CFO Steve Filton sold 35,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, March 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $176.82, for a total value of $6,188,700.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 68,785 shares in the company, valued at $12,162,563.70. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UHS has been the subject of several analyst reports. UBS Group increased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $152.00 to $177.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. Barclays initiated coverage on Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, March 6th. They issued an “equal weight” rating and a $181.00 price objective for the company. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an “underweight” rating and issued a $156.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, April 10th. Citigroup increased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $170.00 to $193.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Universal Health Services from $195.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, March 28th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $179.71.

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.