Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Stock Price Expected to Rise, Barclays Analyst Says

Key Points

• Barclays has raised the price target for Universal Health Services to $259.00, indicating a potential upside of 58.22% from the current stock price.
• Universal Health Services reported a quarterly earnings per share (EPS) of $5.35, exceeding analyst expectations of $4.85 with a revenue of $4.28 billion.
• Currently, the consensus rating for Universal Health Services is "Hold", with a price target average of $222.00 based on various investment analysts’ assessments.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) had its price target lifted by Barclays from $257.00 to $259.00 in a research note released on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the health services provider's stock.

Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Stephens upgraded Universal Health Services to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Baird R W lowered Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 15th. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price objective on Universal Health Services from $211.00 to $201.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Guggenheim started coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. They set a "buy" rating and a $208.00 target price for the company. Finally, Robert W. Baird restated a "neutral" rating and issued a $224.00 price objective (down previously from $274.00) on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday, April 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $218.92.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UHS traded down $4.00 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $162.46. 337,999 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 852,020. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $177.42 and its 200 day simple moving average is $180.01. The stock has a market cap of $10.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.56, a PEG ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 1.28. Universal Health Services has a 12-month low of $152.33 and a 12-month high of $243.25. The company has a current ratio of 1.29, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, July 28th. The health services provider reported $5.35 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.85 by $0.50. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 18.22% and a net margin of 7.66%. The firm had revenue of $4.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.24 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $4.31 EPS. Universal Health Services's revenue for the quarter was up 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate 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 declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 16th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 2nd will be issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 2nd. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 4.21%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,097 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.48, for a total value of $210,053.56. Following the transaction, the director owned 7,884 shares in the company, valued at $1,509,628.32. This trade represents a 12.21% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 16.40% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 9.3% during the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 87,880 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $15,919,000 after acquiring an additional 7,472 shares in the last quarter. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.6% during the 2nd quarter. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,516 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $637,000 after buying an additional 123 shares during the last quarter. Ingalls & Snyder LLC grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 35.0% during the 2nd quarter. Ingalls & Snyder LLC now owns 2,025 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $367,000 after buying an additional 525 shares during the last quarter. Brighton Jones LLC bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 2nd quarter valued at about $311,000. Finally, MQS Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 17.5% in the second quarter. MQS Management LLC now owns 2,682 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $486,000 after purchasing an additional 399 shares during the period. 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.