Wells Fargo & Company Cuts Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Price Target to $230.00

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) had its price target cut by Wells Fargo & Company from $285.00 to $230.00 in a report published on Monday,Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the health services provider’s stock.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Barclays upped their target price on Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $219.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Friday, October 25th. UBS Group increased their price target on Universal Health Services from $247.00 to $267.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 14th. KeyCorp initiated coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Friday, October 11th. They issued a “sector weight” rating for the company. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on Universal Health Services from $222.00 to $211.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 28th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $225.50.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Universal Health Services stock opened at $203.50 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.39. Universal Health Services has a 52 week low of $133.70 and a 52 week high of $243.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 1.29. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $216.79 and a 200-day moving average of $206.96.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.75 by ($0.04). Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The business had revenue of $3.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.90 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.55 EPS. Universal Health Services’s quarterly revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Universal Health Services will post 15.93 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 Tuesday, December 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be paid a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.39%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 5.32%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. Financial Management Professionals Inc. acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services in the third quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 1,284.6% during the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 167 shares during the last quarter. Innealta Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the second quarter valued at approximately $35,000. True Wealth Design LLC purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the third quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Finally, Huntington National Bank boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 414.3% during the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 145 shares during 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.