Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Price Target Lowered to $229.00 at Cantor Fitzgerald

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) had its price target lowered by research analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald from $250.00 to $229.00 in a note issued to investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a “neutral” rating on the health services provider’s stock. Cantor Fitzgerald’s price target suggests a potential upside of 11.41% from the company’s previous close.

Several other brokerages have also recently commented on UHS. UBS Group reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Guggenheim increased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $253.00 to $274.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an “equal weight” rating and issued a $235.00 target price (down from $259.00) on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed a “sector perform” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. Finally, Raymond James Financial set a $270.00 price objective on Universal Health Services and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $233.13.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of UHS stock traded up $1.21 on Friday, hitting $205.54. 36,412 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 726,220. The company has a market capitalization of $12.84 billion, a PE ratio of 8.88, a PEG ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 1.26. The company’s fifty day moving average is $216.32 and its 200 day moving average is $210.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 0.96. Universal Health Services has a 1-year low of $152.33 and a 1-year high of $246.32.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 25th. The health services provider reported $5.88 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $5.92 by ($0.04). Universal Health Services had a net margin of 8.57% and a return on equity of 19.84%. The business had revenue of $4.49 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.50 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $4.92 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 9.1% on a year-over-year basis. Universal Health Services has set its FY 2026 guidance at 22.640-24.520 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Pzena Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 310.2% during the 3rd quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 1,607,029 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $328,541,000 after acquiring an additional 1,215,286 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter worth about $199,334,000. Nomura Holdings Inc. increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 100.6% in the 2nd quarter. Nomura Holdings Inc. now owns 2,560 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $464,000 after buying an additional 426,211 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 59.5% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 871,377 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $189,978,000 after buying an additional 325,162 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Holocene Advisors LP increased its stake in Universal Health Services by 262.4% in the third quarter. Holocene Advisors LP now owns 358,885 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $73,370,000 after acquiring an additional 259,861 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Universal Health Services

Here are the key news stories impacting Universal Health Services this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Management raised 2026 revenue guidance to $18.4–18.8B and set EPS guidance of $22.64–24.52, signaling confidence in growth and margin expansion for the year ahead. Press Release
• Positive Sentiment: UHS is accelerating AI initiatives and outpatient expansion as growth drivers that could lift margins and diversify revenue away from inpatient admissions. MSN Article
• Positive Sentiment: Operating performance improved in 2025: UHS reported a roughly 30% jump in net income and an 11.5% operating margin, supporting the company’s ability to fund growth and maintain cash flow. Becker’s
• Positive Sentiment: Barclays raised its price target to $268 and kept an Overweight rating, offering upside relative to the current price and supporting bullish sentiment. Benzinga
• Neutral Sentiment: Company released the full Q4 earnings release and conference call transcript with detailed metrics and management commentary for investors to parse. Earnings Release
• Neutral Sentiment: Local/operational note: UHS is negotiating to end a financial support arrangement with George Washington University related to the MFA program — minimal system‑wide financial impact disclosed so far. GW Hatchet
• Negative Sentiment: Q4 EPS of $5.88 missed consensus by $0.04 and revenue of $4.49B slightly missed estimates; management cited softer admissions — this explains headline selling pressure. Reuters
• Negative Sentiment: UHS expects about a $35M earnings hit from California’s psychiatric staffing mandate, a near‑term cost that will pressure margins in the state. Becker’s
• Negative Sentiment: Some coverage frames the quarter and S&P/valuation pressure as reasons for outsized intraday selling, amplifying volatility despite the mixed fundamentals. Kalkine

Universal Health Services Company Profile

Universal Health Services, Inc (NYSE: UHS) is one of the largest diversified health care management companies in the United States, offering a broad spectrum of services through its acute care hospital and behavioral health segments. The company operates general acute care hospitals, surgical hospitals and ambulatory centers, as well as inpatient and outpatient behavioral health facilities. Its network provides emergency and specialized medicine, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, advanced surgical care and rehabilitation, complemented by a comprehensive array of behavioral services including psychiatric treatment, addiction programs and developmental disabilities care.

In the acute care segment, UHS’s facilities deliver services ranging from emergency department treatment and intensive care to maternity care and outpatient surgery.