Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Announces Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.03 EPS

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday. The health services provider reported $5.22 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.19 by $0.03, Zacks reports. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.39% and a net margin of 8.42%.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 4.5%

Shares of NYSE:UHS traded down $8.39 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $177.32. 1,239,362 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 833,745. The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. Universal Health Services has a fifty-two week low of $140.08 and a fifty-two week high of $246.32. The firm has a market cap of $10.45 billion, a PE ratio of 7.22, a P/E/G ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 1.03. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $177.10 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $177.97.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have commented on UHS. Robert W. Baird lowered their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $204.00 to $166.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. UBS Group reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Monday, August 31st. Weiss Ratings upgraded Universal Health Services from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 14th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $165.00 to $166.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. Finally, Leerink Partners lifted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $198.00 to $205.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, September 18th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $204.94.

About Universal Health Services

Universal Health Services, Inc (NYSE: UHS) is a healthcare services company that owns and operates hospitals, outpatient facilities and other healthcare providers. Its operations are focused primarily on acute care and behavioral health services.

The company’s acute care operations include general and specialty hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, emergency departments, physician practices and other outpatient services. Its behavioral health business provides inpatient and outpatient treatment for mental health conditions, substance-use disorders and related needs.

Universal Health Services serves patients across the United States and Puerto Rico, with additional behavioral health operations in the United Kingdom.