Analysts Set Expectations for Universal Health Services, Inc.'s Q1 2024 Earnings (NYSE:UHS)

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) - Equities researchers at Leerink Partnrs lowered their Q1 2024 earnings per share estimates for Universal Health Services in a research report issued on Wednesday, April 3rd. Leerink Partnrs analyst W. Mayo now anticipates that the health services provider will post earnings of $3.37 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $3.44. The consensus estimate for Universal Health Services' current full-year earnings is $13.39 per share. Leerink Partnrs also issued estimates for Universal Health Services' Q1 2025 earnings at $4.09 EPS.

Several other equities research analysts also recently commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $144.00 to $182.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 13th. Cantor Fitzgerald boosted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $148.00 to $156.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a report on Thursday, February 29th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $170.00 to $193.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, February 29th. Barclays assumed coverage on Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, March 6th. They set an "equal weight" rating and a $181.00 price target for the company. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on Universal Health Services from $170.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, March 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Universal Health Services has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $176.29.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE UHS traded up $1.09 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $173.43. 355,002 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 549,341. The company has a market cap of $11.66 billion, a PE ratio of 16.90, a P/E/G ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 1.24. Universal Health Services has a one year low of $119.90 and a one year high of $183.61. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $169.70 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $149.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 1.29 and a current ratio of 1.40.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 27th. The health services provider reported $3.13 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.02 by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $3.70 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.66 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 12.08% and a net margin of 5.03%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $3.02 earnings per share.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 1st were given a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 29th. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.46%. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio is currently 7.80%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Universal Health Services news, CFO Steve Filton sold 35,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, March 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $176.82, for a total value of $6,188,700.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 68,785 shares of the company's stock, valued at $12,162,563.70. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 15.40% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in UHS. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 48.0% during the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 1,967,220 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $247,339,000 after buying an additional 638,166 shares during the last quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 32,501.2% during the 4th quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 570,847 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $87,020,000 after buying an additional 569,096 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter valued at $86,117,000. Point72 Asset Management L.P. lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 12,924.9% during the 4th quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 503,935 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $76,820,000 after buying an additional 500,066 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Iron Triangle Partners LP purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 2nd quarter valued at $74,152,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company's stock.

About Universal Health Services

Universal Health Services, Inc, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates acute care hospitals, and outpatient and behavioral health care facilities. It operates through Acute Care Hospital Services and Behavioral Health Care Services segments. The company's hospitals offer general and specialty surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics, emergency room care, radiology, oncology, diagnostic and coronary care, pediatric services, pharmacy services, and/or behavioral health services.