Brokerages Set Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Price Target at $230.75

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) has received an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the fifteen ratings firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $228.38.

UHS has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Morgan Stanley began coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, March 26th. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $200.00 target price on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $226.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. Stephens raised their price target on Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

NYSE UHS opened at $188.27 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Universal Health Services has a fifty-two week low of $152.69 and a fifty-two week high of $243.25. The business has a fifty day moving average of $181.98 and a 200-day moving average of $196.66. The stock has a market cap of $12.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.32.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.21 by $0.71. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The firm had revenue of $4.11 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.01 billion. As a group, analysts predict that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd were issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.42%. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is 4.75%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total transaction of $179,160.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 7,916 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,418,230.56. The trade was a 11.22 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 16.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of UHS. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 73.3% in the fourth quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 23,049 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $4,135,000 after purchasing an additional 9,747 shares during the period. QSM Asset Management Ltd purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter valued at about $7,045,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter valued at about $8,495,000. Forum Financial Management LP increased its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 20.0% during the fourth quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 1,953 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $350,000 after acquiring an additional 326 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GF Fund Management CO. LTD. acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter worth about $254,000. 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.