Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Announces Earnings Results, Misses Expectations By $0.03 EPS

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) posted its earnings results on Wednesday. The health services provider reported $5.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $5.91 by ($0.03), Zacks reports. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.47% and a net margin of 8.09%. Universal Health Services updated its FY 2026 guidance to 22.640-24.520 EPS.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

UHS stock traded up $0.80 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $230.78. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 943,076 shares, compared to its average volume of 716,433. The firm has a market capitalization of $14.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.73 and a beta of 1.26. The company has a 50 day moving average of $216.61 and a two-hundred day moving average of $210.34. Universal Health Services has a 12 month low of $152.33 and a 12 month high of $246.32. The company has a quick ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Investors of record on Monday, March 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 2nd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 3.80%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently issued reports on UHS. Cantor Fitzgerald boosted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $227.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Wells Fargo & Company restated an “equal weight” rating and set a $235.00 price target (down from $259.00) on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Guggenheim upped their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $253.00 to $274.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 2nd. TD Cowen reduced their price target on Universal Health Services from $251.00 to $245.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Finally, Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $263.00 to $262.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $234.13.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of UHS. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the second quarter valued at $29,000. MUFG Securities EMEA plc bought a new position in Universal Health Services in the second quarter worth approximately $31,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 94.0% in the third quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 163 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 79 shares in the last quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. purchased a new position in Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth $51,000. Finally, Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC bought a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter valued at $60,000. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

About Universal Health Services

Universal Health Services, Inc (NYSE: UHS) is one of the largest diversified health care management companies in the United States, offering a broad spectrum of services through its acute care hospital and behavioral health segments. The company operates general acute care hospitals, surgical hospitals and ambulatory centers, as well as inpatient and outpatient behavioral health facilities. Its network provides emergency and specialized medicine, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, advanced surgical care and rehabilitation, complemented by a comprehensive array of behavioral services including psychiatric treatment, addiction programs and developmental disabilities care.

In the acute care segment, UHS’s facilities deliver services ranging from emergency department treatment and intensive care to maternity care and outpatient surgery.