Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Given Average Recommendation of “Hold” by Analysts

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) has been given an average recommendation of “Hold” by the seventeen ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and five have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $204.9333.

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on UHS shares. Robert W. Baird lowered their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $204.00 to $166.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price target on Universal Health Services from $242.00 to $190.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Universal Health Services from $212.00 to $191.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price objective on Universal Health Services from $261.00 to $230.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. Finally, Weiss Ratings cut Universal Health Services from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 1.1%

Shares of NYSE:UHS opened at $169.81 on Friday. Universal Health Services has a 12-month low of $140.08 and a 12-month high of $246.32. The company has a market cap of $10.28 billion, a PE ratio of 6.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.94 and a beta of 1.05. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $151.90 and a 200 day moving average of $177.05. The company has a current ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, July 27th. The health services provider reported $5.98 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.94 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $4.64 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.58 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 8.42% and a return on equity of 19.39%. The company’s revenue was up 8.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $5.35 earnings per share. Universal Health Services has set its FY 2026 guidance at 22.280-23.650 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Universal Health Services will post 23.15 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 1st will be paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 1st. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is presently 3.26%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Blair William & Co. IL boosted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 4.1% during the 4th quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 1,390 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $303,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares during the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.3% in the third quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,794 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $367,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares during the last quarter. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,859 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $841,000 after buying an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Triad Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.4% in the first quarter. Triad Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,858 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $333,000 after buying an additional 61 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its stake in Universal Health Services by 0.3% during the fourth quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 20,595 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $4,490,000 after buying an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. 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.