Brokerages Set Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Target Price at $231.14

Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) have received a consensus recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the sixteen ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, nine have assigned a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $231.14.

UHS has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Stephens reissued an "equal weight" rating and set a $200.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Thursday, July 25th. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $236.00 to $274.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th. Bank of America began coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $223.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $219.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Friday, October 25th.

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of UHS. Financial Management Professionals Inc. bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter worth $32,000. True Wealth Design LLC bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 3rd quarter valued at $39,000. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its stake in Universal Health Services by 1,284.6% during the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 180 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 167 shares in the last quarter. Huntington National Bank boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 414.3% in the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 180 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $41,000 after acquiring an additional 145 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Innealta Capital LLC bought a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 2nd quarter valued at $35,000. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company's stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of UHS stock traded up $0.65 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $197.44. 1,016,399 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 683,128. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $219.39 and its 200-day moving average price is $205.95. Universal Health Services has a twelve month low of $133.70 and a twelve month high of $243.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.03 billion, a PE ratio of 13.13, a PEG ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.75 by ($0.04). The company had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.90 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. Universal Health Services's revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.55 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services will post 15.93 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services declared that its Board of Directors has approved a stock buyback plan on Wednesday, July 24th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the health services provider to buy up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are generally an indication that the company's board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.41%. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 5.32%.

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.