Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Issues Quarterly Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.04 EPS

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) announced its earnings results on Monday. The health services provider reported $5.98 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.94 by $0.04, Zacks reports. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 8.56% and a return on equity of 19.57%. Universal Health Services updated its FY 2026 guidance to 22.280-23.650 EPS.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 2.3%

NYSE:UHS traded up $3.65 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $159.40. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 1,643,045 shares, compared to its average volume of 884,627. Universal Health Services has a 52-week low of $140.08 and a 52-week high of $246.32. The company has a current ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 1.07. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $150.58 and a 200-day moving average of $179.55.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 1st will be issued 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 is Tuesday, September 1st. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 3.33%.

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $508,000. Corient Private Wealth LLC grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 348.7% during the fourth quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 162,985 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $35,534,000 after acquiring an additional 126,662 shares during the last quarter. Alberta Investment Management Corp acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter valued at $5,232,000. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 29.8% in the 4th quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 15,160 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $3,305,000 after acquiring an additional 3,482 shares during the period. Finally, First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. raised its position in Universal Health Services by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. now owns 56,177 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $12,248,000 after purchasing an additional 1,217 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have commented on UHS shares. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Raymond James Financial lowered Universal Health Services from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 29th. Stephens reduced their price objective on Universal Health Services from $235.00 to $205.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Universal Health Services from $165.00 to $166.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. Finally, Mizuho lowered their target price on Universal Health Services from $267.00 to $230.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Universal Health Services has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $213.73.

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.