Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Given Average Recommendation of “Hold” by Brokerages

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) has received an average recommendation of “Hold” from the sixteen research firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $232.6429.

UHS has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday, October 14th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $219.00 price objective on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald increased their price target on Universal Health Services from $227.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, October 11th. Mizuho set a $242.00 price objective on Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on Universal Health Services from $215.00 to $195.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, August 4th.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,817 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $223.30, for a total transaction of $852,336.10. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 8,481 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,893,807.30. This represents a 31.04% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Elliot J. Md Mba Sussman sold 965 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $225.70, for a total transaction of $217,800.50. Following the transaction, the director owned 6,113 shares in the company, valued at $1,379,704.10. This represents a 13.63% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 16.40% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 320.0% during the 3rd quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 126 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 96 shares during the period. Root Financial Partners LLC purchased a new position in Universal Health Services during the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the first quarter worth $30,000. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the second quarter worth $29,000. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 94.0% during the 3rd quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 163 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 79 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

NYSE UHS opened at $242.54 on Friday. Universal Health Services has a one year low of $152.33 and a one year high of $246.32. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $215.79 and a 200 day moving average of $192.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a current ratio of 1.03. The company has a market capitalization of $15.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.52, a PEG ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.33.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The health services provider reported $5.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.66 by $1.03. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 8.09% and a return on equity of 19.47%. The business had revenue of $4.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.32 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $3.71 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 13.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 15th. Investors of record on Monday, December 1st will be issued a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 1st. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.3%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 3.80%.

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.