Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Updates FY 2026 Earnings Guidance

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) issued an update on its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Monday morning. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of 22.280-23.650 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 23.440. The company issued revenue guidance of $18.5 billion-$18.8 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $18.5 billion.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have commented on UHS. Barclays lowered Universal Health Services from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and set a $179.00 price target for the company. in a research report on Wednesday, July 8th. Weiss Ratings cut Universal Health Services from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Mizuho decreased their target price on Universal Health Services from $267.00 to $230.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Guggenheim dropped their price target on Universal Health Services from $211.00 to $195.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 20th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $165.00 to $166.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Universal Health Services presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $213.73.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 2.3%

UHS traded up $3.65 on Monday, hitting $159.40. The company had a trading volume of 1,644,805 shares, compared to its average volume of 884,627. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $150.58 and a 200-day simple moving average of $179.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 1.01. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.64, a P/E/G ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 1.07. Universal Health Services has a 52-week low of $140.08 and a 52-week high of $246.32.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its earnings results on Monday, July 27th. The health services provider reported $5.98 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.94 by $0.04. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.57% and a net margin of 8.56%.Universal Health Services has set its FY 2026 guidance at 22.280-23.650 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Universal Health Services will post 23.44 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 1st will be issued a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 1st. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.5%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is 3.33%.

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the second quarter valued at approximately $29,000. MUFG Securities EMEA plc bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 94.0% during the third quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 163 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 79 shares during the last quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. bought a new stake in Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter worth $51,000. Finally, Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the third quarter worth $60,000. 86.05% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Company Profile

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.