Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Earns "Equal Weight" Rating from Stephens

Stephens reiterated their equal weight rating on shares of Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) in a research report report published on Thursday morning,Benzinga reports. Stephens currently has a $210.00 price objective on the health services provider's stock.

Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. TD Cowen cut their price target on Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, November 26th. Barclays dropped their price target on Universal Health Services from $271.00 to $249.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday. Cantor Fitzgerald raised shares of Universal Health Services from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 25th. Finally, Bank of America assumed 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 target on the stock. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Universal Health Services presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $228.77.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of UHS traded up $0.48 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $175.53. The stock had a trading volume of 1,075,868 shares, compared to its average volume of 647,396. Universal Health Services has a 12 month low of $152.68 and a 12 month high of $243.25. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $184.47 and a 200 day moving average price of $204.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.58 billion, a PE ratio of 11.67, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.30.

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

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

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

Insider Activity at Universal Health Services

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred 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 transaction, the director now owns 5,879 shares in the company, valued at $1,123,770.85. The trade was a 21.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Choreo LLC grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 3.4% in the fourth quarter. Choreo LLC now owns 1,822 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $325,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Empirical Finance LLC raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 5,704 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $1,306,000 after purchasing an additional 64 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE increased its stake in Universal Health Services by 3.0% during the 3rd 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 in the last quarter. Quarry LP raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 14.4% in the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 516 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $118,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 2.2% in the fourth quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 3,060 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $549,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. 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.