Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Price Target Increased to $189.00 by Analysts at Barclays

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) had its target price upped by Barclays from $181.00 to $189.00 in a report released on Friday morning, Benzinga reports. Barclays currently has an equal weight rating on the health services provider’s stock.

Other equities analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Stephens reiterated an equal weight rating and set a $185.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Universal Health Services from $144.00 to $182.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $170.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, March 4th. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $170.00 to $193.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 29th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $152.00 to $177.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, February 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $180.60.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 0.6 %

Universal Health Services stock opened at $166.06 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.07, a P/E/G ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 1.24. Universal Health Services has a 12-month low of $119.90 and a 12-month high of $183.61. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $170.63 and a 200 day moving average of $153.34. The company has a current ratio of 1.38, a quick ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, April 24th. The health services provider reported $3.70 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.14 by $0.56. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 5.57% and a return on equity of 13.34%. The firm had revenue of $3.84 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.78 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.34 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 10.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Universal Health Services will post 13.34 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

In other news, CFO Steve Filton sold 35,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $176.82, for a total value of $6,188,700.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 68,785 shares in the company, valued at $12,162,563.70. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,090,010 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $137,047,000 after purchasing an additional 37,243 shares during the period. UBS Group AG boosted its stake in Universal Health Services by 51.2% in the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 62,949 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $7,915,000 after buying an additional 21,325 shares during the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 4,622.3% in the 3rd quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 16,906 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $2,125,000 after buying an additional 16,548 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 16.7% during the 4th quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 53,239 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $8,116,000 after acquiring an additional 7,616 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Aigen Investment Management LP purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter worth about $466,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

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.