Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Receives Average Recommendation of "Hold" from Brokerages

Key Points

• Universal Health Services has a consensus “Hold” rating among 17 analysts, with 12 holds and five buys. The average 12-month price target is $204.93.
• UHS reported quarterly EPS of $5.98, slightly above estimates, while revenue reached $4.64 billion, up 8.3% year over year and above expectations.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.20 per share, equivalent to an annualized $0.80 dividend and a 0.5% yield. Institutional investors own approximately 86.05% of the stock.

Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus rating of "Hold" from the seventeen analysts that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and five have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1-year price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $204.9333.

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Weiss Ratings cut Universal Health Services from a "hold (c)" rating to a "hold (c-)" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. TD Cowen lowered their target price 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. Stephens dropped their target price on Universal Health Services from $235.00 to $205.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Universal Health Services from $165.00 to $166.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, July 13th. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded Universal Health Services from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, May 2nd.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 1.1%

Shares of UHS opened at $169.81 on Friday. Universal Health Services has a fifty-two week low of $140.08 and a fifty-two week high of $246.32. The firm has a market cap of $10.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.92, a PEG ratio of 0.94 and a beta of 1.05. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $151.90 and a 200-day moving average price of $177.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.12.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, July 27th. The health services provider reported $5.98 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.94 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $4.64 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.58 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 8.42% and a return on equity of 19.39%. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 8.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $5.35 EPS. Universal Health Services has set its FY 2026 guidance at 22.280-23.650 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Universal Health Services will post 23.15 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 1st will be paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 1st. Universal Health Services's payout ratio is presently 3.26%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Blair William & Co. IL grew its position in Universal Health Services by 4.1% during the fourth quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 1,390 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $303,000 after buying an additional 55 shares during the period. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. raised its position in Universal Health Services by 3.3% in the third quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,794 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $367,000 after acquiring an additional 58 shares during the period. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC raised its position in Universal Health Services by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,859 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $841,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares during the period. Triad Wealth Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.4% during the 1st quarter. Triad Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,858 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $333,000 after acquiring an additional 61 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 20,595 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $4,490,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company's stock.

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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