Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Receives Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the sixteen research firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $231.14.

Several research firms have recently commented on UHS. Barclays boosted their price target on Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, October 25th. TD Cowen lowered their price objective on Universal Health Services from $283.00 to $275.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 28th. StockNews.com lowered Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, November 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $229.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 30th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $222.00 to $211.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 28th.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE:UHS opened at $196.79 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The business’s 50 day moving average is $220.04 and its 200 day moving average is $206.01. The stock has a market cap of $12.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.29. Universal Health Services has a 52-week low of $133.70 and a 52-week high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.75 by ($0.04). The business had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.90 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The firm’s revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.55 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Universal Health Services will post 15.93 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services declared that its board has authorized a share buyback plan on Wednesday, July 24th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the health services provider to buy up to 8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are generally a sign that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of UHS. Point72 Asset Management L.P. raised its position in Universal Health Services by 362.3% during the second quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 322,626 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $59,663,000 after acquiring an additional 252,846 shares in the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 357.9% during the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 261,221 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $48,308,000 after purchasing an additional 204,178 shares in the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 1,191.8% during the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 215,215 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $39,267,000 after purchasing an additional 198,555 shares in the last quarter. Goldentree Asset Management LP acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter valued at $21,378,000. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 408.2% during the second quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 140,561 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $25,994,000 after buying an additional 112,902 shares in the last quarter. 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.