Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Sets New 52-Week Low – Here’s What Happened

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)’s stock price hit a new 52-week low on Monday . The stock traded as low as $140.41 and last traded at $140.2850, with a volume of 427206 shares. The stock had previously closed at $145.17.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on UHS shares. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $268.00 to $238.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 28th. Weiss Ratings cut shares of Universal Health Services from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 27th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $261.00 to $230.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 29th. TD Cowen dropped their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $245.00 to $230.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, May 2nd. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $218.63.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 2.2%

The company has a market capitalization of $8.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 1.07. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $169.69 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $199.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 1.01.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $5.62 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.41 by $0.21. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.57% and a net margin of 8.56%.The firm had revenue of $4.50 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.39 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $4.84 EPS. Universal Health Services’s quarterly revenue was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 23.47 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 8th will be given a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 8th. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 3.33%.

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Pzena Investment Management LLC boosted its position in Universal Health Services by 31.5% during the fourth quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 2,112,604 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $460,590,000 after acquiring an additional 505,575 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 12.1% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,781,262 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $318,812,000 after purchasing an additional 192,351 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 1.7% in the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,226,577 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $219,520,000 after purchasing an additional 20,577 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter valued at $199,334,000. Finally, Morgan Stanley grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 59.5% in the fourth quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 871,377 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $189,978,000 after purchasing an additional 325,162 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 (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.