Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Given Consensus Rating of “Hold” by Brokerages

Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) have received an average recommendation of “Hold” from the eighteen research firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, eleven have issued a hold recommendation and six have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1-year price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $218.6250.

UHS has been the topic of a number of research reports. Wells Fargo & Company began coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Monday, June 1st. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $165.00 target price on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price target on Universal Health Services from $261.00 to $230.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 29th. Weiss Ratings cut Universal Health Services from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 27th. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $268.00 to $238.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 28th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald lowered their price target on Universal Health Services from $229.00 to $194.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 29th.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Universal Health Services stock opened at $141.19 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 1.01. The company’s 50-day moving average is $164.04 and its 200 day moving average is $194.05. Universal Health Services has a 1-year low of $140.08 and a 1-year high of $246.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.07.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $5.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.41 by $0.21. The firm had revenue of $4.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.39 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.57% and a net margin of 8.56%.Universal Health Services’s quarterly revenue was up 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $4.84 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Universal Health Services will post 23.47 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 8th will be given a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 8th. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 3.33%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Elyxium Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Founders Capital Management purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the second quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 302.9% during the 4th quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 141 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 106 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

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.