Leerink Partnrs Research Analysts Lift Earnings Estimates for Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) - Research analysts at Leerink Partnrs raised their FY2024 EPS estimates for shares of Universal Health Services in a research report issued on Thursday, April 25th. Leerink Partnrs analyst W. Mayo now expects that the health services provider will post earnings per share of $14.12 for the year, up from their prior forecast of $13.83. The consensus estimate for Universal Health Services' current full-year earnings is $13.47 per share. Leerink Partnrs also issued estimates for Universal Health Services' Q4 2024 earnings at $3.98 EPS, Q1 2025 earnings at $4.04 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $3.24 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $4.03 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $15.44 EPS.

UHS has been the topic of a number of other research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Universal Health Services from $144.00 to $182.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 13th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, January 8th. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an "underweight" rating and issued a $156.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, April 10th. Stephens restated an "equal weight" rating and set a $185.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Thursday. Finally, TD Cowen raised their target price on Universal Health Services from $140.00 to $181.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a research note on Friday, March 1st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $182.64.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of UHS traded up $3.06 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $169.12. The company's stock had a trading volume of 650,805 shares, compared to its average volume of 587,904. Universal Health Services has a 1-year low of $119.90 and a 1-year high of $183.61. The company has a current ratio of 1.38, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $170.76 and a 200 day simple moving average of $154.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.33, a P/E/G ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.24.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 24th. The health services provider reported $3.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $3.14 by $0.56. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 5.57% and a return on equity of 13.34%. The business had revenue of $3.84 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.78 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.34 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 10.8% compared to the same quarter last year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of UHS. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 11.4% in the 1st quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC now owns 624 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $114,000 after purchasing an additional 64 shares during the last quarter. IFM Investors Pty Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 0.5% in the 1st quarter. IFM Investors Pty Ltd now owns 12,776 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $2,331,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 6.6% during the fourth quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 1,070 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $163,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 42.8% during the third quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 267 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 34.8% during the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 360 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $66,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares during the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In related news, CFO Steve Filton sold 35,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $176.82, for a total transaction of $6,188,700.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 68,785 shares of the company's stock, valued at $12,162,563.70. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 16.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.