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

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) updated its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Wednesday. The company provided EPS guidance of 22.640-24.520 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of 23.440. The company issued revenue guidance of $18.4 billion-$18.8 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $18.3 billion.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UHS has been the topic of a number of research reports. TD Cowen dropped their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $251.00 to $245.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $227.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. UBS Group reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Guggenheim upped their price target on Universal Health Services from $253.00 to $274.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 2nd. Finally, Raymond James Financial set a $270.00 price objective on Universal Health Services and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Universal Health Services has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $234.53.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of Universal Health Services stock traded down $25.08 during trading on Thursday, hitting $205.66. 684,406 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 714,107. Universal Health Services has a 1 year low of $152.33 and a 1 year high of $246.32. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $216.73 and a 200-day simple moving average of $210.48. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.77, a PEG ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 1.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 0.96.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 25th. The health services provider reported $5.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $5.92 by ($0.04). Universal Health Services had a net margin of 8.09% and a return on equity of 19.47%. The company had revenue of $4.49 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.50 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $4.92 EPS. Universal Health Services’s revenue was up 9.1% on a year-over-year basis. Universal Health Services has set its FY 2026 guidance at 22.640-24.520 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 2nd. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is 3.80%.

Key Universal Health Services News

Here are the key news stories impacting Universal Health Services this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Barclays raised its price target to $268 and kept an “overweight” rating, signaling analyst conviction in upside from current levels. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: UHS reported strong profitability metrics — 11.5% operating margin in 2025 and a ~30% jump in net income year‑over‑year — which support longer‑term cash generation. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Company set FY‑2026 revenue guidance above Street consensus ($18.4B–$18.8B vs. ~$18.3B), indicating expected top‑line growth next year. Read More.
• Neutral Sentiment: Company released its full Q4 and FY‑2025 results and the supporting disclosure/press materials — investors should review the call and supplemental data for segment trends and cash/CapEx details. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: UHS missed Q4 EPS by $0.04 (reported $5.88 vs. $5.92 consensus) and revenue of $4.49B was just shy of estimates — small misses that often trigger outsized stock moves for large-cap hospital operators. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Management cited softer medical‑care demand and lower admissions as a headwind in the quarter, a near‑term utilization/mix risk that can pressure margins and investor sentiment. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: FY‑2026 EPS guidance (22.640–24.520) sits around or slightly below consensus (≈23.44), leaving investors worried management’s midpoint is not sufficiently conservative or is signaling slower margin expansion than hoped. Read More.

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of UHS. Nomura Holdings Inc. lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 100.6% in the second quarter. Nomura Holdings Inc. now owns 2,560 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $464,000 after acquiring an additional 426,211 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley increased its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 59.5% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 871,377 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $189,978,000 after purchasing an additional 325,162 shares during the last quarter. Voloridge Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 152.0% during the 3rd quarter. Voloridge Investment Management LLC now owns 264,606 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $54,096,000 after purchasing an additional 159,617 shares during the last quarter. Woodline Partners LP lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 132.2% in the 3rd quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 238,713 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $48,802,000 after purchasing an additional 135,892 shares during the period. Finally, Corient Private Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 348.7% in the fourth quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 162,985 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $35,534,000 after buying an additional 126,662 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

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.