Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Given New $257.00 Price Target at Barclays

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) had its price objective increased by Barclays from $249.00 to $257.00 in a research note released on Tuesday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the health services provider's stock.

A number of other equities analysts also recently commented on UHS. Guggenheim started coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $208.00 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley started coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, March 26th. They issued an "equal weight" rating and a $200.00 price objective for the company. Baird R W downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, March 10th. Finally, Robert W. Baird reissued a "neutral" rating and set a $224.00 price target (down previously from $274.00) on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $224.77.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 1.3 %

Shares of NYSE:UHS traded down $2.36 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $174.71. The company had a trading volume of 608,152 shares, compared to its average volume of 747,596. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $176.49 and its 200-day moving average price is $188.34. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.62, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.21. Universal Health Services has a one year low of $153.99 and a one year high of $243.25.

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 during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.16 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The firm's revenue was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $3.70 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect 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 disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd were issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.46%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 3rd. Universal Health Services's payout ratio is currently 4.75%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total value of $179,160.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 7,916 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,418,230.56. The trade was a 11.22 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 16.40% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. MQS Management LLC bought a new stake in Universal Health Services in the first quarter worth about $429,000. CWM LLC raised its position in Universal Health Services by 227.2% in the first quarter. CWM LLC now owns 11,316 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $2,126,000 after acquiring an additional 7,858 shares in the last quarter. WealthTrust Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Universal Health Services in the first quarter worth about $512,000. Xponance Inc. raised its position in Universal Health Services by 2.5% in the first quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 8,565 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $1,609,000 after acquiring an additional 212 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kesler Norman & Wride LLC raised its position in Universal Health Services by 40.4% in the first quarter. Kesler Norman & Wride LLC now owns 4,639 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $873,000 after acquiring an additional 1,336 shares in the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.