FY2024 Earnings Estimate for UHS Issued By Leerink Partnrs

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) - Analysts at Leerink Partnrs increased their FY2024 earnings per share estimates for Universal Health Services in a report issued on Tuesday, October 29th. Leerink Partnrs analyst W. Mayo now forecasts that the health services provider will post earnings of $15.97 per share for the year, up from their previous estimate of $15.93. The consensus estimate for Universal Health Services' current full-year earnings is $15.90 per share. Leerink Partnrs also issued estimates for Universal Health Services' Q4 2024 earnings at $4.26 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $4.29 EPS and Q4 2025 earnings at $4.88 EPS.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.75 by ($0.04). Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The business had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.90 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.55 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis.

A number of other equities analysts also recently weighed in on UHS. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $255.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 22nd. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. KeyCorp assumed coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 11th. They issued a "sector weight" rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $222.00 to $211.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Universal Health Services from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, October 19th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $231.00.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 1.6 %

Shares of Universal Health Services stock traded down $3.28 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $204.22. 1,117,569 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 676,826. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.67 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Universal Health Services has a twelve month low of $123.80 and a twelve month high of $243.25. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $227.75 and a 200 day simple moving average of $201.82.

Universal Health Services announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share buyback program on Wednesday, July 24th that allows the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the health services provider to purchase up to 8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are usually a sign that the company's board believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Nina Chen-Langenmayr sold 850 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $212.11, for a total value of $180,293.50. Following the sale, the director now owns 1,985 shares of the company's stock, valued at $421,038.35. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $217.64, for a total transaction of $749,552.16. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,971 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $864,248.44. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Nina Chen-Langenmayr sold 850 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.11, for a total transaction of $180,293.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 1,985 shares of the company's stock, valued at $421,038.35. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 16.10% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 4.2% in the second quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 1,160 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $215,000 after buying an additional 47 shares during the period. LRI Investments LLC lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 19.5% in the 2nd quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 386 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $71,000 after acquiring an additional 63 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.0% during the 3rd quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,238 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $512,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Mather Group LLC. grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 31.6% in the 3rd quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 283 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $65,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Empirical Finance LLC raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 2,455 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $448,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares in the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.