Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Sets New 12-Month Low - What's Next?

Key Points

• Universal Health Services recently hit a new 52-week low of $152.50, closing at $156.29, prompting speculation about potential selling.
• Analysts have mixed views on the stock, with price targets ranging from $201 to $257 and a consensus rating of "Hold".
• The company reported earnings per share of $4.84, exceeding estimates and showing a year-over-year revenue increase of 6.7%.
• A quarterly dividend of $0.20 per share has been declared, representing an annual yield of 0.52%.

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $152.50 and last traded at $156.29, with a volume of 37219 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $155.46.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently issued reports on UHS. Barclays raised their price target on Universal Health Services from $249.00 to $257.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 29th. Baird R W cut shares of Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 15th. Stephens raised shares of Universal Health Services to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Bank of America downgraded Universal Health Services from a "neutral" rating to an "underperform" rating and cut their price target for the company from $215.00 to $185.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th. Finally, Guggenheim initiated coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. They set a "buy" rating and a $208.00 price objective for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Universal Health Services has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $221.85.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $10.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.72, a P/E/G ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 1.28. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $179.79 and its 200 day simple moving average is $180.63. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $4.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $4.36 by $0.48. The company had revenue of $4.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.16 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 17.79% and a net margin of 7.44%. The business'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. On average, equities research analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 2nd will be paid a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 2nd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.52%. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 4.49%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,097 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.48, for a total value of $210,053.56. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 7,884 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,509,628.32. The trade was a 12.21% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 16.40% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 99.2% during the 4th quarter. D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. now owns 12,450 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $2,234,000 after acquiring an additional 6,200 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 30.6% in the 4th quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 12,858 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $2,307,000 after purchasing an additional 3,011 shares in the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter valued at $1,141,000. Brown Advisory Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 5.4% during the 1st quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. now owns 5,152 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $968,000 after buying an additional 264 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CX Institutional bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter worth $74,000. 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.