Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Lowered to "Buy" Rating by StockNews.com

StockNews.com downgraded shares of Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report released on Saturday morning.

UHS has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on Universal Health Services from $222.00 to $211.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 28th. KeyCorp assumed coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Friday, October 11th. They issued a "sector weight" rating on the stock. Barclays raised their target price on Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, October 25th. UBS Group upped their target price on Universal Health Services from $247.00 to $267.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 14th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $229.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 30th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $231.14.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of UHS traded down $0.91 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $207.50. 572,838 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 681,757. 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 has a fifty-two week low of $127.43 and a fifty-two week high of $243.25. The company has a market cap of $13.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.80, a P/E/G ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.29. The firm's fifty day moving average is $224.42 and its 200 day moving average is $204.08.

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 analysts' consensus estimates of $3.75 by ($0.04). Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The firm had revenue of $3.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.90 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.55 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services will post 15.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $217.64, for a total transaction of $749,552.16. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 3,971 shares of the company's stock, valued at $864,248.44. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Insiders own 16.10% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Point72 Asset Management L.P. lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 362.3% during the second quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 322,626 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $59,663,000 after acquiring an additional 252,846 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 357.9% during the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 261,221 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $48,308,000 after purchasing an additional 204,178 shares during the period. Lazard Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 1,191.8% in the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 215,215 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $39,267,000 after buying an additional 198,555 shares during the last quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter worth about $25,032,000. Finally, Goldentree Asset Management LP bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the first quarter valued at about $21,378,000. 86.05% of the stock is 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.