Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Trading 6.9% Higher – Time to Buy?

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) shares rose 6.9% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $160.88 and last traded at $160.99. Approximately 556,828 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 37% from the average session volume of 877,710 shares. The stock had previously closed at $150.58.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on Universal Health Services from $235.00 to $205.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, May 20th. Guggenheim reduced their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $238.00 to $211.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 29th. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $268.00 to $238.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 28th. TD Cowen dropped their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $197.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, June 22nd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $261.00 to $230.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $216.56.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $9.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.68, a PEG ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a current ratio of 1.08. The company has a 50 day moving average of $156.67 and a 200 day moving average of $188.00.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $5.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.41 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $4.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.39 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.57% and a net margin of 8.56%.Universal Health Services’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $4.84 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 23.47 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 18th. Investors of record on Monday, June 8th were paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 8th. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is presently 3.33%.

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. BTC Capital Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 161.3% in the 4th quarter. BTC Capital Management Inc. now owns 42,199 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $9,203,000 after purchasing an additional 26,047 shares during the last quarter. Invenomic Capital Management LP raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 174.1% in the 3rd quarter. Invenomic Capital Management LP now owns 73,266 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $14,979,000 after purchasing an additional 46,535 shares in the last quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 51.4% during the 4th quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 54,975 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $11,988,000 after purchasing an additional 18,652 shares during the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 187.1% during the 4th quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 9,201 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $2,039,000 after purchasing an additional 5,996 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Clark Capital Management Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 2.2% during the third quarter. Clark Capital Management Group Inc. now owns 331,325 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $67,736,000 after purchasing an additional 6,996 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

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.