Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Now Covered by Analysts at Guggenheim

Guggenheim initiated coverage on shares of Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) in a research report report published on Wednesday morning, Marketbeat.com reports. The brokerage issued a buy rating and a $208.00 target price on the health services provider’s stock.

Several other analysts have also issued reports on the company. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, March 10th. Morgan Stanley started coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, March 26th. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $200.00 price target for the company. Cantor Fitzgerald raised Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Stephens raised their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Finally, Barclays reduced their target price on Universal Health Services from $271.00 to $249.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $226.93.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 2.3 %

Shares of UHS traded down $4.13 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $178.95. 325,761 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 743,494. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.21. Universal Health Services has a fifty-two week low of $152.69 and a fifty-two week high of $243.25. The business has a 50-day moving average of $180.53 and a 200-day moving average of $193.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.21 by $0.71. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The business had revenue of $4.11 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.01 billion. On average, research analysts expect that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd were given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.45%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 4.75%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total value of $179,160.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 7,916 shares in the company, valued at $1,418,230.56. This represents a 11.22 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 16.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of UHS. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 73.0% in the 3rd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 2,226 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $510,000 after buying an additional 939 shares in the last quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 100.6% during the third quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 2,237 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $512,000 after purchasing an additional 1,122 shares in the last quarter. MML Investors Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 18.6% during the 3rd quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 2,030 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $465,000 after buying an additional 318 shares during the last quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 18,042 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $4,132,000 after acquiring an additional 206 shares in the last quarter. Finally, LRI Investments LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 18.1% in the 3rd quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 456 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $104,000 after buying an additional 70 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Company Profile

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.