Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Sets New 1-Year High - Here's Why

Key Points

• Universal Health Services reached a new 52-week high of $214.00 during trading, closing at $204.15 with a trading volume of 64,207 shares.
• Several analysts have recently upgraded their ratings, with Wells Fargo boosting its price target from $210.00 to $249.00 and four analysts rating it as a "Buy" and one as a "Sell."
• The company's latest earnings report indicated an EPS of $5.35, surpassing the consensus estimate, and a revenue increase of 9.6% from the same quarter last year.

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $214.00 and last traded at $204.15, with a volume of 64207 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $208.63.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UHS has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Wall Street Zen upgraded Universal Health Services from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Saturday, October 11th. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $219.00 price objective on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $249.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their target price on Universal Health Services from $201.00 to $206.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 19th. Finally, 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 research note on Thursday, September 18th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $218.69.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $13.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.87 and a beta of 1.30. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $193.64 and a 200 day moving average of $183.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 1.29 and a quick ratio of 1.19.

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

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. Invesco Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 11.1% in the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,461,198 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $264,696,000 after buying an additional 145,730 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 9.0% during the 1st 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. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 57.8% during the 1st 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 in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 3.5% during the 2nd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 926,669 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $167,866,000 after purchasing an additional 31,201 shares in the last quarter. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 0.8% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 639,524 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $115,850,000 after acquiring an additional 4,932 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company's stock.

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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