Universal Technical Institute (NYSE:UTI) Downgraded to Sell Rating by Wall Street Zen

Universal Technical Institute (NYSE:UTI) was downgraded by investment analysts at Wall Street Zen from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report issued on Saturday.

Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Barrington Research reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $36.00 target price on shares of Universal Technical Institute in a report on Thursday. Rosenblatt Securities restated a “buy” rating and set a $36.00 price target on shares of Universal Technical Institute in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of Universal Technical Institute in a research report on Monday, December 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $36.20.

Universal Technical Institute Stock Performance

NYSE UTI opened at $25.50 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.29, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 1.36. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $26.70 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $28.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a current ratio of 1.14. Universal Technical Institute has a fifty-two week low of $21.29 and a fifty-two week high of $36.32.

Universal Technical Institute (NYSE:UTI) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $0.23 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.15 by $0.08. Universal Technical Institute had a return on equity of 16.98% and a net margin of 6.28%.The company had revenue of $220.84 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $216.65 million. On average, equities analysts forecast that Universal Technical Institute will post 1 earnings per share for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Universal Technical Institute news, Director Coliseum Capital Management, L bought 467,020 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 2nd. The shares were bought at an average price of $24.40 per share, with a total value of $11,395,288.00. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 3,424,374 shares in the company, valued at $83,554,725.60. This trade represents a 15.79% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In the last 90 days, insiders acquired 1,255,173 shares of company stock valued at $30,812,798. Company insiders own 9.80% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Technical Institute

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC boosted its position in Universal Technical Institute by 3.4% during the third quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 11,259 shares of the company’s stock worth $383,000 after acquiring an additional 367 shares during the last quarter. Leuthold Group LLC lifted its stake in Universal Technical Institute by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Leuthold Group LLC now owns 141,748 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,704,000 after purchasing an additional 439 shares in the last quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC lifted its stake in Universal Technical Institute by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC now owns 21,034 shares of the company’s stock worth $685,000 after purchasing an additional 441 shares in the last quarter. Engineers Gate Manager LP boosted its holdings in shares of Universal Technical Institute by 4.3% during the 2nd quarter. Engineers Gate Manager LP now owns 12,299 shares of the company’s stock worth $417,000 after purchasing an additional 506 shares during the last quarter. Finally, SkyView Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Universal Technical Institute by 1.2% in the second quarter. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC now owns 42,404 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,460,000 after purchasing an additional 506 shares in the last quarter. 75.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Key Stories Impacting Universal Technical Institute

Here are the key news stories impacting Universal Technical Institute this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 beat — UTI reported Q1 FY2026 results that topped consensus: $0.23 EPS vs. $0.15 expected and revenue above estimates, signaling revenue and margin momentum. UTI Surpasses Q1 Earnings and Revenue Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst reaffirmations — Barrington Research and Rosenblatt Securities both reaffirmed bullish ratings and set $36 price targets (roughly ~41% above the current price), providing third‑party validation of upside potential. Benzinga
• Positive Sentiment: Operational growth catalysts — Company discussions and coverage highlight new campus expansion and program launches that could support enrollment and revenue growth going forward. UTI Q4 Deep Dive: New Campus Expansion and Program Launches Shape Outlook
• Positive Sentiment: Quarterly/seasonal strength confirmation — Coverage notes UTI exceeded fourth-quarter CY2025 expectations, reinforcing the view that recent results are not an anomaly. Universal Technical Institute (NYSE:UTI) Exceeds Q4 CY2025 Expectations
• Neutral Sentiment: Guidance is range-bound — Management updated FY2026 revenue guidance to about $905M–$915M (near consensus), which suggests steady growth but not a large upward revision; investors will watch cadence and margin assumptions. Universal Technical Institute Reports Fiscal Year 2026 First Quarter Results
• Neutral Sentiment: Investor detail available — Full earnings call transcript and highlights provide management commentary on enrollment, margins and US workforce demand that investors should read to assess sustainability of recent beats. UTI Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript UTI Q1 2026 Earnings Call Highlights
• Neutral Sentiment: PR visibility — CEO Jerome Grant issued a CTE Month statement emphasizing UTI/Concorde scale (~32,000 students) and the company’s role in workforce training — good for brand and enrollment marketing but not an immediate financial catalyst. CEO Jerome Grant Highlights Skilled Collar and Healthcare Workers’ Contributions

About Universal Technical Institute

Universal Technical Institute, Inc (NYSE: UTI) is a leading provider of post-secondary education for students pursuing careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians, as well as in welding and CNC machining. The company designs and delivers hands-on training through a blend of classroom instruction and experiential lab work, preparing graduates for entry-level positions in the transportation, manufacturing and energy sectors. UTI’s curriculum emphasizes industry-recognized credentials and proprietary coursework developed in collaboration with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to ensure alignment with evolving employer needs.

Through a network of campus locations across the United States and select centers in Canada, Universal Technical Institute offers diploma and certificate programs ranging from 36 to 74 weeks in length.