Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Price Target Raised to $267.00 at UBS Group

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) had its price target raised by UBS Group from $247.00 to $267.00 in a research report report published on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a buy rating on the health services provider’s stock.

UHS has been the subject of several other reports. TD Cowen raised their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $183.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Friday, July 26th. Baird R W upgraded Universal Health Services from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 26th. Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from an underweight rating to a neutral rating and raised their price objective for the company from $162.00 to $219.00 in a research report on Friday, July 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $229.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 30th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $182.00 to $186.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, May 30th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Universal Health Services currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $219.46.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 0.6 %

NYSE:UHS opened at $221.87 on Wednesday. Universal Health Services has a 52 week low of $119.90 and a 52 week high of $224.34. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $194.44 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $179.34. The firm has a market cap of $14.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a current ratio of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The health services provider reported $4.31 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.37 by $0.94. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 6.22%. The business had revenue of $3.91 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.87 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.53 earnings per share. Universal Health Services’s quarterly revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts expect that Universal Health Services will post 15.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services announced that its board has approved a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, July 24th that allows the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the health services provider to purchase up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are usually a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd will be paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.36%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 3rd. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is 6.78%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $210.85, for a total value of $3,192,479.85. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,253 shares in the company, valued at $1,107,595.05. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Universal Health Services news, Director Eileen C. Mcdonnell sold 2,535 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $209.55, for a total value of $531,209.25. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,413 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,343,844.15. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $210.85, for a total transaction of $3,192,479.85. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,253 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,107,595.05. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 21,970 shares of company stock worth $4,653,535. 16.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 32,501.2% during the 4th quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 570,847 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $87,020,000 after acquiring an additional 569,096 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter valued at about $86,117,000. Point72 Asset Management L.P. lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 12,924.9% during the fourth quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 503,935 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $76,820,000 after purchasing an additional 500,066 shares in the last quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter valued at $49,212,000. Finally, 8 Knots Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter valued at about $40,010,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors 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.