Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Given New $220.00 Price Target at TD Cowen

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) had its price target upped by TD Cowen from $183.00 to $220.00 in a research note published on Friday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a hold rating on the health services provider's stock.

UHS has been the topic of a number of other research reports. StockNews.com upgraded Universal Health Services from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 17th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised Universal Health Services from an underweight rating to a neutral rating and raised their price target for the company from $162.00 to $219.00 in a report on Friday. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $183.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Tuesday, May 7th. Barclays upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $198.00 to $256.00 in a research report on Friday. Finally, Stephens reiterated an equal weight rating and set a $200.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Thursday. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $206.14.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

UHS stock traded up $8.70 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $213.69. 1,429,500 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 645,042. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $185.59 and a 200-day moving average price of $173.84. Universal Health Services has a 52-week low of $119.90 and a 52-week high of $214.64. The company has a market capitalization of $14.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.11, a P/E/G ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 1.38 and a quick ratio of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 24th. The health services provider reported $4.31 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.37 by $0.94. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.22% and a return on equity of 15.12%. The company had revenue of $3.91 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.87 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.53 earnings per share. Universal Health Services's revenue for the quarter was up 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services will post 13.83 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd will be paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.37%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 3rd. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio is presently 6.78%.

Universal Health Services declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback plan on Wednesday, July 24th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the health services provider to repurchase up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are usually a sign that the company's management believes its shares are undervalued.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. AlphaCentric Advisors LLC bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $92,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 0.5% in the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 486,438 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $89,957,000 after purchasing an additional 2,620 shares during the last quarter. LRI Investments LLC increased its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 19.5% in the second quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 386 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $71,000 after buying an additional 63 shares during the period. New York State Teachers Retirement System increased its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 0.7% in the second quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System now owns 66,677 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $12,331,000 after buying an additional 492 shares during the period. Finally, Parsons Capital Management Inc. RI raised its holdings in Universal Health Services by 1.3% during the 2nd quarter. Parsons Capital Management Inc. RI now owns 13,305 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $2,460,000 after buying an additional 171 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors 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.