Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Receives $232.64 Consensus Target Price from Analysts

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) has received an average recommendation of “Hold” from the sixteen research firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $234.1429.

Several analysts recently weighed in on UHS shares. Robert W. Baird dropped their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $243.00 to $203.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, August 14th. Guggenheim upped their price target on Universal Health Services from $253.00 to $274.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Monday. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $249.00 to $259.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, November 13th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, October 11th.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 0.3%

Shares of UHS opened at $230.79 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $14.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.27. Universal Health Services has a 12-month low of $152.33 and a 12-month high of $246.32. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $218.85 and its 200 day moving average price is $193.59. The company has a current ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The health services provider reported $5.69 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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 company had revenue of $4.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.32 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $3.71 earnings per share. Universal Health Services’s revenue 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 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 Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 1st will be given a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 1st. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 3.80%.

Insider Buying and Selling

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

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Pzena Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 310.2% during the 3rd quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 1,607,029 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $328,541,000 after purchasing an additional 1,215,286 shares in the last quarter. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 2nd quarter valued at about $87,373,000. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 2nd quarter valued at about $83,333,000. Nomura Holdings Inc. grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 100.6% during the second quarter. Nomura Holdings Inc. now owns 2,560 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $464,000 after buying an additional 426,211 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 57.8% during the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 931,355 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $173,381,000 after buying an additional 340,966 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.