Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Lowered to “Buy” at StockNews.com

StockNews.com lowered shares of Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report issued on Tuesday.

UHS has been the subject of a number of other reports. UBS Group upgraded Universal Health Services from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $189.00 to $226.00 in a research note on Monday, May 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $182.00 to $186.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, May 30th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an underweight rating and issued a $162.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday. Robert W. Baird raised Universal Health Services from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and upped their target price for the company from $198.00 to $236.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 26th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their target price on Universal Health Services from $208.00 to $203.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 12th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $194.21.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 0.3 %

UHS opened at $184.43 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.63, a P/E/G ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 1.28. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $183.17 and its 200-day moving average is $171.43. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75. Universal Health Services has a 52-week low of $119.90 and a 52-week high of $194.02.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 24th. The health services provider reported $3.70 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.14 by $0.56. The firm had revenue of $3.84 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.78 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 5.57% and a return on equity of 13.34%. The firm’s revenue was up 10.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.34 EPS. Analysts expect that Universal Health Services will post 13.83 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 3rd were given a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.43%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 6.78%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 11.4% in the 1st quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC now owns 624 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $114,000 after acquiring an additional 64 shares in the last quarter. IFM Investors Pty Ltd raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 0.5% during the first quarter. IFM Investors Pty Ltd now owns 12,776 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $2,331,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 6.6% in the fourth 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 in the last quarter. Empirical Finance LLC increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 3.1% in the first quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 2,455 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $448,000 after buying an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC raised its position in 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 acquiring an additional 93 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other 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.