Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Receives Consensus Rating of "Hold" from Analysts

Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) have been given an average recommendation of "Hold" by the fifteen brokerages that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $224.77.

A number of brokerages have weighed in on UHS. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their price target on Universal Health Services from $211.00 to $201.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Baird R W downgraded Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Robert W. Baird reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $224.00 price target (down previously from $274.00) on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday, April 15th. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $249.00 to $257.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 29th. Finally, Stephens upgraded shares of Universal Health Services to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, June 2nd.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of UHS stock opened at $184.54 on Thursday. Universal Health Services has a fifty-two week low of $153.99 and a fifty-two week high of $243.25. The stock's 50-day moving average is $182.23 and its two-hundred day moving average is $181.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.32 and a quick ratio of 1.23. The firm has a market cap of $12.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.36, a PEG ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $4.84 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $4.36 by $0.48. The firm had revenue of $4.10 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.16 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 17.79% and a net margin of 7.44%. The firm's revenue was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $3.70 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 16th. Investors of record on Monday, June 2nd were paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.43%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 2nd. Universal Health Services's payout ratio is presently 4.49%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,097 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.48, for a total value of $210,053.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 7,884 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,509,628.32. This represents a 12.21% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 16.40% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. First Eagle Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 4,675,182 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $838,821,000 after buying an additional 44,099 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,713,572 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $306,776,000 after acquiring an additional 52,042 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. increased its stake in Universal Health Services by 6.0% in the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,315,468 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $247,176,000 after acquiring an additional 74,128 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in Universal Health Services by 9.0% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,241,738 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $233,311,000 after purchasing an additional 102,137 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Universal Health Services by 57.8% during the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 931,355 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $173,381,000 after purchasing an additional 340,966 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Universal Health Services Company Profile

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.

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