Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Receives Consensus Rating of “Hold” from Analysts

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) has received a consensus rating of “Hold” from the seventeen analysts that are covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $204.9333.

A number of research analysts recently commented on UHS shares. Cantor Fitzgerald restated a “neutral” rating and set a $194.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, July 28th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $242.00 to $190.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Robert W. Baird cut their price objective on Universal Health Services from $204.00 to $166.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, Guggenheim decreased their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $195.00 to $189.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 29th.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of UHS stock opened at $170.64 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $161.69 and a 200-day simple moving average of $173.11. The company has a market capitalization of $10.06 billion, a PE ratio of 6.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 1.05. Universal Health Services has a twelve month low of $140.08 and a twelve month high of $246.32.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 28th. The health services provider reported $5.98 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.94 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $4.64 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.58 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 8.42% and a return on equity of 19.39%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 8.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $5.35 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services will post 23.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 1st will be given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 1st. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is presently 3.26%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Elyxium Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC raised its holdings in Universal Health Services by 503.1% in the 2nd quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 193 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 161 shares in the last quarter. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Larson Financial Group LLC increased its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 302.9% during the fourth quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 141 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 106 shares during the period. Finally, CENTRAL TRUST Co raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 107.1% in the first quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 174 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 90 shares in the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.