Zacks Research Has Optimistic Outlook of UHS Q1 Earnings

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) - Equities researchers at Zacks Research increased their Q1 2025 EPS estimates for Universal Health Services in a report issued on Monday, April 7th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now expects that the health services provider will post earnings of $4.24 per share for the quarter, up from their prior estimate of $4.22. The consensus estimate for Universal Health Services' current full-year earnings is $15.92 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Universal Health Services' Q2 2025 earnings at $4.65 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $4.42 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $18.58 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $4.68 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $4.94 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $5.06 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $5.41 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $20.08 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $5.04 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $21.15 EPS.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.21 by $0.71. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The business had revenue of $4.11 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.01 billion.

A number of other brokerages also recently issued reports on UHS. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $226.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. Morgan Stanley began coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, March 26th. They set an "equal weight" rating and a $200.00 price objective on the stock. Guggenheim assumed coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday. They set a "buy" rating and a $208.00 price target on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Barclays lowered their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $271.00 to $249.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $228.77.

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Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of UHS traded down $3.19 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $175.05. 985,904 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 748,441. Universal Health Services has a 1 year low of $152.69 and a 1 year high of $243.25. The stock has a market cap of $11.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.64, a P/E/G ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.21. 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 50-day moving average price of $179.93 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $192.84.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Choreo LLC increased its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.4% during the fourth quarter. Choreo LLC now owns 1,822 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $325,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares during the period. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 3,060 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $549,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. LRI Investments LLC grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 18.1% during the third quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 456 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $104,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares during the last quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 5.9% during the fourth quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,266 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $227,000 after buying an additional 71 shares during the period. Finally, Platinum Investment Management Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 17.6% in the fourth quarter. Platinum Investment Management Ltd. now owns 488 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $88,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total value of $179,160.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 7,916 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,418,230.56. The trade was a 11.22 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 16.10% of the company's stock.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

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

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.