Barclays Increases Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Price Target to $189.00

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) had its price objective boosted by Barclays from $181.00 to $189.00 in a report published on Friday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an equal weight rating on the health services provider’s stock.

UHS has been the topic of several other research reports. UBS Group boosted their price target 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. Stephens reiterated an equal weight rating and set a $185.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Thursday. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $195.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, March 28th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price target on Universal Health Services from $208.00 to $203.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 12th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Universal Health Services from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, January 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $180.60.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of UHS stock opened at $166.06 on Friday. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $170.63 and its 200-day moving average is $153.34. Universal Health Services has a 1 year low of $119.90 and a 1 year high of $183.61. The company has a current ratio of 1.38, a quick ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.07, a PEG ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 1.24.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 24th. The health services provider reported $3.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.14 by $0.56. The firm had revenue of $3.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.78 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 5.57% and a return on equity of 13.34%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.34 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that Universal Health Services will post 13.34 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake 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 valued at $114,000 after purchasing an additional 64 shares during the last quarter. IFM Investors Pty Ltd lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 0.5% in the first quarter. IFM Investors Pty Ltd now owns 12,776 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $2,331,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 6.6% during the 4th quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 1,070 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $163,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Universal Health Services by 42.8% in the 3rd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 267 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares during the period. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 34.8% during the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 360 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $66,000 after buying an additional 93 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

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.