Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Hold” by Analysts

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) has earned a consensus recommendation of “Hold” from the sixteen analysts that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, eight have issued a hold recommendation, six have assigned a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $234.1333.

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Guggenheim boosted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $253.00 to $274.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 2nd. Zacks Research upgraded Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Mizuho set a $242.00 target price on Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $219.00 price target for the company. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a “sector perform” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Thursday, October 30th.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,817 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $223.30, for a total transaction of $852,336.10. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 8,481 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,893,807.30. The trade was a 31.04% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Elliot J. Md Mba Sussman sold 965 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $225.70, for a total value of $217,800.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 6,113 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,379,704.10. This trade represents a 13.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Company insiders own 16.40% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 320.0% during the 3rd quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 126 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 96 shares during the period. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter worth $26,000. Root Financial Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter valued at $28,000. Founders Capital Management purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Finally, CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC bought a new position in Universal Health Services in the 2nd quarter worth $29,000. 86.05% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UHS opened at $205.03 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 1.03. The firm has a market cap of $12.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.28. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $222.12 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $202.43. Universal Health Services has a fifty-two week low of $152.33 and a fifty-two week high of $246.32.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The health services provider reported $5.69 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.66 by $1.03. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 8.09% and a return on equity of 19.47%. The firm had revenue of $4.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.32 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $3.71 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 13.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 1st were given a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 1st. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.4%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 3.80%.

About Universal Health Services

Universal Health Services, Inc (NYSE: UHS) is one of the largest diversified health care management companies in the United States, offering a broad spectrum of services through its acute care hospital and behavioral health segments. The company operates general acute care hospitals, surgical hospitals and ambulatory centers, as well as inpatient and outpatient behavioral health facilities. Its network provides emergency and specialized medicine, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, advanced surgical care and rehabilitation, complemented by a comprehensive array of behavioral services including psychiatric treatment, addiction programs and developmental disabilities care.

In the acute care segment, UHS’s facilities deliver services ranging from emergency department treatment and intensive care to maternity care and outpatient surgery.