Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Announces Quarterly Dividend of $0.20

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) declared a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, February 12th,RTT News reports. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 3rd will be paid a dividend of 0.20 per share by the health services provider on Monday, March 17th. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.45%.

Universal Health Services has a payout ratio of 4.0% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect Universal Health Services to earn $17.69 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.80 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 4.5%.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UHS opened at $179.28 on Thursday. 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 firm has a fifty day moving average of $185.54 and a 200 day moving average of $207.69. The firm has a market cap of $11.83 billion, a PE ratio of 11.92, a PEG ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 1.30. Universal Health Services has a one year low of $152.68 and a one year high of $243.25.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UHS has been the subject of a number of research reports. TD Cowen reduced their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, November 26th. Bank of America began coverage on Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 target price for the company. Cantor Fitzgerald raised Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $226.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday, December 17th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective 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. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Universal Health Services currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $226.14.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the 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 completion of the transaction, 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 ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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.