Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Sets New 1-Year Low – Time to Sell?

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) hit a new 52-week low on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $150.65 and last traded at $152.1290, with a volume of 45015 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $154.29.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UHS has been the subject of several recent research reports. Stephens reduced their price target on Universal Health Services from $235.00 to $205.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on Universal Health Services from $235.00 to $205.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, May 20th. Weiss Ratings cut shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research note on Friday, April 17th. Robert W. Baird cut their price objective on Universal Health Services from $241.00 to $204.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 29th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, May 2nd. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Universal Health Services currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $221.56.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $9.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.34, a P/E/G ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 1.13. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $175.68 and its 200-day simple moving average is $203.13. 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 posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $5.62 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.41 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $4.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.39 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.57% and a net margin of 8.56%.The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $4.84 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 23.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 8th will be given a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 8th. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.5%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 3.33%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Glenmede Trust Co. NA raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 742.5% in the 1st quarter. Glenmede Trust Co. NA now owns 12,696 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $2,272,000 after purchasing an additional 11,189 shares in the last quarter. BankChampaign National Association acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter worth approximately $374,000. Amundi increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 77.0% during the first quarter. Amundi now owns 234,304 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $41,933,000 after purchasing an additional 101,910 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 7.1% during the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 128,682 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $23,030,000 after purchasing an additional 8,533 shares during the period. Finally, Quantinno Capital Management LP raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 1.5% in the first quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP now owns 330,848 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $59,212,000 after buying an additional 4,838 shares in the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is 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.