Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Posts Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.26 EPS

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday. The health services provider reported $5.62 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.36 by $0.26, Zacks reports. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 8.56% and a return on equity of 19.78%. The company had revenue of $4.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.39 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $4.84 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Universal Health Services updated its FY 2026 guidance to 22.640-24.520 EPS.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 3.7%

Shares of Universal Health Services stock traded up $6.00 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $168.54. The company had a trading volume of 377,142 shares, compared to its average volume of 745,372. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $191.57 and a 200 day moving average price of $209.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.05 and a quick ratio of 0.98. The firm has a market cap of $10.30 billion, a PE ratio of 7.04, a P/E/G ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.29. Universal Health Services has a fifty-two week low of $152.33 and a fifty-two week high of $246.32.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 16th. Investors of record on Monday, March 2nd were paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 2nd. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is currently 3.46%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on UHS shares. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $216.00 to $190.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research note on Friday, April 17th. UBS Group restated a “buy” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, March 2nd. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald set a $194.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Universal Health Services presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $220.87.

Universal Health Services News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Universal Health Services this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 earnings and revenue beat — UHS reported $5.62 EPS (beats consensus) and $4.50B revenue, with net income up year-over-year; these headline beats explain much of the bullish move. PR Newswire: Financial Results
• Positive Sentiment: Behavioral health strength drove admissions and patient days gains, supporting revenue growth despite higher operating costs — a key operational driver cited by analysts covering the print. Zacks: Q1 Beat on Behavioral Health
• Neutral Sentiment: FY‑2026 guidance set to $22.64–$24.52 EPS and revenue $18.4–18.8B — guidance brackets the consensus (~$23.4 EPS), which removes surprise risk but doesn’t strongly change the Street’s view. MarketBeat: Earnings & Guidance
• Neutral Sentiment: Earnings call transcript and analyst write-ups available — read the Q1 call transcript and follow analysts for details on mix, margins, and cost pressures highlighted on the call. Seeking Alpha: Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Robert W. Baird cut its price target from $241 to $204 and set a “neutral” rating — this analyst action reduces upside expectations and could cap further near-term gains. Benzinga: Baird Lowers PT

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 6.3% in the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,588,911 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $346,447,000 after acquiring an additional 94,447 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.7% in the third quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,125,764 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $230,151,000 after acquiring an additional 40,533 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 59.5% in the fourth quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 871,377 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $189,978,000 after acquiring an additional 325,162 shares during the period. Lazard Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 11.0% in the fourth quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 352,822 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $76,922,000 after acquiring an additional 35,054 shares during the period. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.7% in the fourth quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 343,516 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $74,893,000 after acquiring an additional 12,203 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.