Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Receives $226.14 Average Price Target from Analysts

Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) have earned a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from the sixteen ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, eight have assigned a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $226.14.

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 25th. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on Universal Health Services from $222.00 to $211.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 28th. StockNews.com downgraded Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, November 9th. TD Cowen dropped their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, November 26th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $226.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, December 17th.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

UHS stock traded up $4.65 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $190.65. The stock had a trading volume of 786,361 shares, compared to its average volume of 543,172. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $193.14 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $207.39. Universal Health Services has a 52-week low of $150.11 and a 52-week high of $243.25. 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 stock has a market cap of $12.58 billion, a PE ratio of 12.68, a P/E/G ratio of 0.60 and a beta of 1.30.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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). The firm had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.90 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.55 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services will post 15.88 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 3rd were issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.42%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 3rd. Universal Health Services's payout ratio is 5.32%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In related news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total transaction of $308,516.10. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 5,879 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,123,770.85. The trade was a 21.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 16.10% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Empirical Finance LLC raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 5,704 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $1,306,000 after buying an additional 64 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE raised its position in Universal Health Services by 3.0% in the third 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 during the period. Quarry LP lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 14.4% in the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 516 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $118,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Mather Group LLC. grew its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 31.6% during 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 period. Finally, Banco Santander S.A. increased its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. Banco Santander S.A. now owns 3,032 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $694,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares during the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.