Leerink Partners Issues Positive Forecast for Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Stock Price

Key Points

• Leerink Partners raised its price target for Universal Health Services from $198 to $205 and maintained an “outperform” rating, implying 12.63% upside from the prior close.
• Analyst sentiment remains mixed: UHS has an overall “Hold” consensus rating, with six Buy ratings and twelve Holds, and an average target price of $204.94.
• UHS exceeded quarterly expectations, reporting $5.98 in earnings per share versus a $5.94 estimate and $4.64 billion in revenue, up 8.3% year over year.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) had its price objective lifted by investment analysts at Leerink Partners from $198.00 to $205.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an "outperform" rating on the health services provider's stock. Leerink Partners' target price would indicate a potential upside of 12.63% from the stock's previous close.

UHS has been the topic of several other research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price objective on Universal Health Services from $242.00 to $190.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Universal Health Services from $165.00 to $166.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Monday, July 13th. TD Cowen cut their price target on Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $197.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, June 22nd. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $194.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. Finally, Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $179.00 to $168.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, July 28th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $204.94.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of UHS opened at $182.01 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $10.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 1.06. Universal Health Services has a 52-week low of $140.08 and a 52-week high of $246.32. The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $167.29 and a 200 day moving average price of $168.08.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 28th. The health services provider reported $5.98 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 company's revenue was up 8.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $5.35 EPS. Research analysts predict that Universal Health Services will post 22.96 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. Elyxium Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Larson Financial Group LLC raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 302.9% in the fourth quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 141 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 106 shares during the last quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co raised its position 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 buying an additional 90 shares during the last quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 503.1% during the second quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 193 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 161 shares during the period. Finally, Root Financial Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 54.7% during the fourth quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC now owns 212 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Company Profile

Universal Health Services, Inc NYSE: UHS is a healthcare services company that owns and operates hospitals, outpatient facilities and other healthcare organizations. Its operations are primarily focused on acute care and behavioral health services, serving patients through a network of hospitals, treatment centers and ambulatory facilities.

The company's acute care activities include general and specialty hospitals that provide services such as emergency care, surgery, inpatient treatment and diagnostic procedures.

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