Vanguard Group Inc. Sells 172,336 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

Key Points

• Vanguard trimmed its stake in Universal Health Services by 2.6%, selling 172,336 shares in Q4 and retaining 6,486,542 shares (about 10.38% of the company) valued at roughly $1.414 billion.
• UHS beat Q1 estimates — $5.62 EPS vs. $5.41 expected and $4.50B revenue vs. $4.39B — and set FY‑2026 guidance of 22.64–24.52 EPS, but management cited weaker patient volumes that dampened investor sentiment.
• Analysts have become more cautious, with several firms cutting price targets and MarketBeat showing a consensus "Hold" and an average target of $220.94, helping drive recent share weakness despite the earnings beat.

Vanguard Group Inc. trimmed its position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 2.6% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 6,486,542 shares of the health services provider's stock after selling 172,336 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. owned about 10.38% of Universal Health Services worth $1,414,196,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of UHS. Stephens Inc. AR increased its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 4.2% in the third quarter. Stephens Inc. AR now owns 1,250 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $256,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated boosted its stake in Universal Health Services by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated now owns 3,512 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $718,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares during the period. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,794 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $367,000 after buying an additional 58 shares during the last quarter. Avanza Fonder AB grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 6.1% in the 4th quarter. Avanza Fonder AB now owns 1,027 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $224,000 after buying an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Resonant Capital Advisors LLC increased its position in Universal Health Services by 1.6% in the 4th quarter. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,859 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $841,000 after buying an additional 60 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

NYSE UHS opened at $168.19 on Friday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a twelve month low of $152.33 and a twelve month high of $246.32. The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The stock has a market cap of $10.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.01, a PEG ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 1.29. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $188.99 and its 200 day simple moving average is $208.93.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 27th. The health services provider reported $5.62 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $5.41 by $0.21. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.57% and a net margin of 8.56%.The company had revenue of $4.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.39 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $4.84 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. Universal Health Services has set its FY 2026 guidance at 22.640-24.520 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 23.46 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 2nd were given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 2nd. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio is 3.33%.

More Universal Health Services News

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

• Positive Sentiment: UHS is stepping up digital transformation — the company deployed eight AI solutions in its revenue‑cycle operations in 2025 and says it plans to expand AI into clinical operations, a potential source of margin improvement and cost savings over time. UHS deployed 8 AI solutions in revenue cycle in 2025, eyes clinical operations
• Positive Sentiment: Management will present at the BofA Securities Health Care Conference on May 12 — scheduled investor access could provide more color on volumes, margins and AI rollout, which may help stabilize sentiment. UHS to present at BofA conference
• Positive Sentiment: Some long‑term value commentators continue to view UHS as an attractive value play based on current valuation metrics and cashflow profile, which could interest value investors buying weakness. Why UHS is a top value stock for long-term
• Neutral Sentiment: Q1 2026 summary: UHS reported a beat on EPS and revenue but noted volume headwinds that dampened earnings growth; management reaffirmed FY‑2026 guidance range (22.64–24.52 EPS) on prior release — mixed fundamentals are producing a split market reaction. Q1 2026 Earnings Call Summary
• Neutral Sentiment: Market writeups aggregating reactions (MSN/Yahoo) explain the paradox: EPS beat but weaker volumes and outlook commentary prompted a selloff despite the beat — useful reading for context. Why UHS stock is up today
• Negative Sentiment: Operational concern: multiple outlets highlight Q1 earnings growth was dampened by lower patient volumes — that weakness in utilization is the principal near‑term risk to revenue and margin recovery. Q1 earnings growth dampened by volume hits
• Negative Sentiment: Immediate market reaction: coverage highlights that UHS shares moved lower after the report despite the beat — investors appear focused on the volume/trajectory story rather than the headline numbers. Why Is UHS Down 9.0% After Beating Q1 2026 Estimates?
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst sentiment has turned more cautious: several firms trimmed price targets this week (Stephens, Morgan Stanley, Mizuho, TD Cowen, RBC, Deutsche Bank, Baird), which increases selling pressure and signals lower near‑term upside in sell‑side expectations. Stephens adjusts price target on UHS

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently commented on UHS. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $235.00 to $212.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, March 2nd. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $216.00 to $190.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Barclays reduced their target price 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. Raymond James Financial downgraded Universal Health Services from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Robert W. Baird cut their price target on Universal Health Services from $241.00 to $204.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $220.94.

About Universal Health Services

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.

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