Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Earns Neutral Rating from Cantor Fitzgerald

Key Points

• Cantor Fitzgerald has reissued a "neutral" rating for Universal Health Services (UHS) with a price target of $227.00, suggesting an 8.26% upside potential from the current stock price.
• Other analysts have mixed opinions; Barclays has lowered its target to $250.00 while JPMorgan has decreased its target to $195.00, reflecting varying levels of confidence in the stock.
• Universal Health Services recently reported a 9.6% revenue increase year-over-year, with earnings per share (EPS) of $5.35, surpassing analyst expectations.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report)'s stock had its "neutral" rating reissued by Cantor Fitzgerald in a research note issued on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. They presently have a $227.00 price objective on the health services provider's stock. Cantor Fitzgerald's price target indicates a potential upside of 8.26% from the company's previous close.

A number of other research analysts also recently issued reports on UHS. Barclays decreased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $259.00 to $250.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, September 18th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, September 13th. UBS Group set a $227.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "hold (c+)" rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Saturday, September 27th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $215.00 to $195.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 4th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $214.08.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 1.2%

Universal Health Services stock opened at $209.69 on Tuesday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $184.38 and a 200-day moving average of $181.25. The company has a quick ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64. Universal Health Services has a twelve month low of $152.33 and a twelve month high of $240.26. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.34 billion, a PE ratio of 10.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 1.30.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, July 28th. The health services provider reported $5.35 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.85 by $0.50. The business had revenue of $4.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.24 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 7.66% and a return on equity of 18.25%. The firm's revenue was up 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $4.31 EPS. Universal Health Services has set its FY 2025 guidance at 20.000-21.000 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the second quarter valued at approximately $87,373,000. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the second quarter valued at about $83,333,000. Nomura Holdings Inc. grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 100.6% in the second quarter. Nomura Holdings Inc. now owns 2,560 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $464,000 after acquiring an additional 426,211 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its position 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 acquiring an additional 340,966 shares during the period. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 329.4% in the 1st quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 404,806 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $76,081,000 after purchasing an additional 310,531 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.

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