JPMorgan Chase & Co. Reaffirms Neutral Rating for Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS)

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS)‘s stock had its “neutral” rating restated by investment analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. They presently have a $226.00 target price on the health services provider’s stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.‘s price target suggests a potential upside of 22.76% from the company’s current price.

Several other research analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research report on Monday. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $222.00 to $211.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 28th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. TD Cowen lowered their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Finally, Bank of America started coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 target price on the stock. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $226.14.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UHS opened at $184.10 on Tuesday. Universal Health Services has a 12 month low of $147.33 and a 12 month high of $243.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.24, a P/E/G ratio of 0.60 and a beta of 1.28. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $206.97 and its 200 day moving average price is $208.55.

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

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total transaction of $308,516.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 5,879 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,123,770.85. The trade was a 21.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Cerity Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 86.4% in the third quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 21,047 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $4,820,000 after buying an additional 9,755 shares during the last quarter. Vestcor Inc raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 1,436.5% in the third quarter. Vestcor Inc now owns 54,070 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $12,383,000 after buying an additional 50,551 shares during the last quarter. Eagle Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the third quarter valued at approximately $13,496,000. Victory Capital Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 174.3% in the third quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 41,623 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $9,532,000 after buying an additional 26,447 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Zacks Investment Management acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the third quarter valued at approximately $2,794,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.