Wells Fargo & Company Cuts Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Price Target to $212.00

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) had its target price cut by Wells Fargo & Company from $235.00 to $212.00 in a research note issued to investors on Monday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have an equal weight rating on the health services provider’s stock.

Several other research firms also recently weighed in on UHS. Barclays increased their price target on Universal Health Services from $262.00 to $268.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 26th. UBS Group reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Cantor Fitzgerald dropped their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $250.00 to $229.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 27th. Finally, Guggenheim boosted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $253.00 to $274.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $232.21.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

UHS opened at $202.33 on Monday. Universal Health Services has a fifty-two week low of $152.33 and a fifty-two week high of $246.32. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $214.53 and a 200 day moving average of $211.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a current ratio of 1.05. The firm has a market cap of $12.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.74, a PEG ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 1.26.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 25th. The health services provider reported $5.88 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.92 by ($0.04). Universal Health Services had a net margin of 8.57% and a return on equity of 19.65%. The company had revenue of $4.49 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.50 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $4.92 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 9.1% on a year-over-year basis. Universal Health Services has set its FY 2026 guidance at 22.640-24.520 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be issued a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 2nd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.4%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 3.46%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Stephens Inc. AR grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 4.2% in the 3rd quarter. Stephens Inc. AR now owns 1,250 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $256,000 after buying an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated grew its position in Universal Health Services by 1.5% in the third quarter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated now owns 3,512 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $718,000 after acquiring an additional 52 shares in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL increased its stake in Universal Health Services by 4.1% in the fourth quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 1,390 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $303,000 after acquiring an additional 55 shares during the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its stake in Universal Health Services by 3.3% in the third quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,794 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $367,000 after acquiring an additional 58 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Avanza Fonder AB raised its position in Universal Health Services by 6.1% during the fourth quarter. Avanza Fonder AB now owns 1,027 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $224,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Universal Health Services

Universal Health Services, Inc (NYSE: UHS) is one of the largest diversified health care management companies in the United States, offering a broad spectrum of services through its acute care hospital and behavioral health segments. The company operates general acute care hospitals, surgical hospitals and ambulatory centers, as well as inpatient and outpatient behavioral health facilities. Its network provides emergency and specialized medicine, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, advanced surgical care and rehabilitation, complemented by a comprehensive array of behavioral services including psychiatric treatment, addiction programs and developmental disabilities care.

In the acute care segment, UHS’s facilities deliver services ranging from emergency department treatment and intensive care to maternity care and outpatient surgery.