Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Shares Gap Down Following Analyst Downgrade

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report)'s stock price gapped down prior to trading on Friday after Barclays lowered their price target on the stock from $271.00 to $249.00. The stock had previously closed at $186.06, but opened at $170.61. Barclays currently has an overweight rating on the stock. Universal Health Services shares last traded at $172.44, with a volume of 189,155 shares changing hands.

Several other analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. TD Cowen dropped their price objective on Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 25th. StockNews.com cut Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, November 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut Universal Health Services from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $228.00 to $198.00 in a report on Monday, December 16th. Finally, Bank of America started coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $223.00 price target for the company. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $228.77.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total transaction of $308,516.10. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 5,879 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,123,770.85. This trade represents a 21.54 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 16.10% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. QSM Asset Management Ltd bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth $7,045,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth $8,495,000. Forum Financial Management LP increased its position in Universal Health Services by 20.0% during the 4th quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 1,953 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $350,000 after buying an additional 326 shares during the period. GF Fund Management CO. LTD. bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth $254,000. Finally, Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth $5,709,000. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company's stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 0.2 %

The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The stock has a market cap of $11.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.67, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.30. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $184.36 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $204.46.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $4.21 by $0.71. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The company had revenue of $4.11 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.01 billion. Equities research analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd will be given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.46%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 3rd. Universal Health Services's payout ratio is currently 4.75%.

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.