Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Price Target Raised to $274.00 at Robert W. Baird

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) had its price objective lifted by Robert W. Baird from $236.00 to $274.00 in a report released on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. They currently have an outperform rating on the health services provider’s stock.

Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Universal Health Services from $182.00 to $186.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, May 30th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $255.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 30th. Baird R W upgraded Universal Health Services from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 26th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Universal Health Services from $183.00 to $189.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 7th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $219.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Monday, August 19th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $222.38.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 4.2 %

Shares of UHS stock opened at $229.15 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $15.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.42, a P/E/G ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 1.28. Universal Health Services has a twelve month low of $119.90 and a twelve month high of $241.95. The company has a quick ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $209.38 and its 200 day simple moving average is $187.78.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 24th. The health services provider reported $4.31 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.37 by $0.94. The business had revenue of $3.91 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.87 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 6.22%. Universal Health Services’s quarterly revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.53 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Universal Health Services will post 15.91 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services declared that its board has authorized a share repurchase program on Wednesday, July 24th that permits the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the health services provider to repurchase up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are generally an indication that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Investors 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 0.35%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 6.78%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $217.64, for a total transaction of $749,552.16. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,971 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $864,248.44. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $217.64, for a total transaction of $749,552.16. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,971 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $864,248.44. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $210.85, for a total value of $3,192,479.85. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,253 shares in the company, valued at $1,107,595.05. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 21,970 shares of company stock valued at $4,653,535. 16.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of UHS. International Assets Investment Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 4,906.0% in the fourth quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 3,354 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $511,000 after purchasing an additional 3,287 shares during the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 6.6% in the fourth quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 1,070 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $163,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 30.5% in the fourth quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 33,054 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $5,039,000 after purchasing an additional 7,733 shares during the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.7% in the fourth quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 14,235 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $2,226,000 after purchasing an additional 514 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 1.0% in the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 582,809 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $88,843,000 after purchasing an additional 5,557 shares during the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.