Leerink Partnrs Has Optimistic Outlook of UHS Q1 Earnings

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) - Investment analysts at Leerink Partnrs lifted their Q1 2025 earnings per share estimates for Universal Health Services in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, February 27th. Leerink Partnrs analyst W. Mayo now anticipates that the health services provider will earn $4.74 per share for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $4.36. The consensus estimate for Universal Health Services' current full-year earnings is $15.92 per share. Leerink Partnrs also issued estimates for Universal Health Services' Q1 2025 earnings at $4.74 EPS, Q2 2025 earnings at $4.84 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $3.98 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $5.02 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $5.02 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $18.59 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $5.23 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $20.10 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $20.10 EPS.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $4.21 by $0.71. The business had revenue of $4.11 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.01 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%.

A number of other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on UHS. Stephens boosted their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Friday. StockNews.com cut Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, November 9th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised Universal Health Services from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Universal Health Services from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Finally, Bank of America initiated coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $223.00 target price on the stock. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $228.77.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE UHS traded up $0.28 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $175.53. The stock had a trading volume of 1,075,868 shares, compared to its average volume of 647,532. The firm has a market cap of $11.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.39. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $184.36 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $204.46. Universal Health Services has a 1 year low of $152.68 and a 1 year high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 3rd will be issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.46%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 3rd. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 4.75%.

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total value of $308,516.10. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 5,879 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,123,770.85. The trade was a 21.54 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 16.10% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. QSM Asset Management Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter worth $7,045,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH bought a new position in Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter worth about $8,495,000. Forum Financial Management LP grew its position in Universal Health Services by 20.0% during the 4th quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 1,953 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $350,000 after purchasing an additional 326 shares during the last quarter. GF Fund Management CO. LTD. bought a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter valued at about $254,000. Finally, Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter worth about $5,709,000. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company's stock.

Universal Health Services Company Profile

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.