Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Releases Earnings Results, Misses Expectations By $0.04 EPS

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday. The health services provider reported $5.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.92 by ($0.04), Zacks reports. The company had revenue of $4.49 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.50 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 8.09% and a return on equity of 19.47%. Universal Health Services’s revenue was up 9.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $4.92 earnings per share. Universal Health Services updated its FY 2026 guidance to 22.640-24.520 EPS.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 0.3%

UHS stock opened at $230.78 on Thursday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $216.73 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $210.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 1.03. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.96, a PEG ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 1.26. Universal Health Services has a one year low of $152.33 and a one year high of $246.32.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be paid a $0.20 dividend. 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 payout ratio is presently 3.80%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in UHS. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services in the 2nd quarter worth about $29,000. MUFG Securities EMEA plc acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the second quarter worth approximately $31,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. grew its holdings 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 valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 79 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc. acquired a new position in Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter worth approximately $51,000. Finally, Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC purchased a new position in Universal Health Services during the third quarter worth approximately $60,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on UHS shares. Cantor Fitzgerald lifted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $227.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed a “sector perform” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Wells Fargo & Company restated an “equal weight” rating and set a $235.00 target price (down from $259.00) on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Finally, TD Cowen lowered their price target on shares of 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. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $234.13.

Universal Health Services Company Profile

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.