Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Releases Quarterly Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.03 EPS

Key Points

• Universal Health Services reported quarterly EPS of $5.22, exceeding analysts’ consensus estimate of $5.19 by $0.03. The company posted a 19.39% return on equity and an 8.42% net margin.
• UHS shares fell $8.39 to $177.32, near their 50-day and 200-day moving averages. The stock has traded between $140.08 and $246.32 over the past year.
• Analyst sentiment remains cautious, with six Buy ratings and twelve Holds producing a consensus Hold rating and an average price target of $204.94.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The health services provider reported $5.22 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $5.19 by $0.03, Zacks reports. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.39% and a net margin of 8.42%.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

NYSE UHS traded down $8.39 on Tuesday, hitting $177.32. 1,137,656 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 832,813. The company has a market capitalization of $10.45 billion, a PE ratio of 7.22, a P/E/G ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 1.12 and a quick ratio of 1.04. Universal Health Services has a 52 week low of $140.08 and a 52 week high of $246.32. The business's fifty day moving average is $177.10 and its 200 day moving average is $177.97.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently commented on UHS. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $179.00 to $168.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. Leerink Partners raised their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $198.00 to $205.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, September 18th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated a "neutral" rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Friday, October 2nd. Guggenheim cut their target price on Universal Health Services from $195.00 to $189.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on Universal Health Services from $212.00 to $191.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $204.94.

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 providers. Its operations are focused primarily on acute care and behavioral health services.

The company's acute care operations include general and specialty hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, emergency departments, physician practices and other outpatient services. Its behavioral health business provides inpatient and outpatient treatment for mental health conditions, substance-use disorders and related needs.

Universal Health Services serves patients across the United States and Puerto Rico, with additional behavioral health operations in the United Kingdom.

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