Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Stock Price Up 4.3% – What’s Next?

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)’s share price traded up 4.3% during mid-day trading on Wednesday. The company traded as high as $185.73 and last traded at $186.7560. Approximately 326,623 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 61% from the average session volume of 844,092 shares. The stock had previously closed at $179.01.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $212.00 to $191.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. UBS Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Monday, August 31st. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a “sector perform” rating and issued a $183.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Thursday, August 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their target price on Universal Health Services from $242.00 to $190.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on Universal Health Services from $204.00 to $166.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $204.94.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 4.3%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 1.12 and a quick ratio of 1.04. The business’s 50 day moving average is $174.47 and its 200 day moving average is $166.16. The stock has a market cap of $11.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.60, a P/E/G ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 1.03.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 28th. The health services provider reported $5.98 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.94 by $0.04. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.39% and a net margin of 8.42%. The firm had revenue of $4.64 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.58 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $5.35 earnings per share. Universal Health Services’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 22.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in UHS. Triad Wealth Partners LLC boosted its stake in Universal Health Services by 3.4% during 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 during the period. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 5.4% in the 1st quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC now owns 1,361 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $244,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares during the period. Mufg Securities Americas Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 5.0% in the 2nd quarter. Mufg Securities Americas Inc. now owns 1,605 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $239,000 after acquiring an additional 77 shares during the last quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 107.1% in the 1st quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 174 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 90 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Kesler Norman & Wride LLC boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 1.8% during the 1st quarter. Kesler Norman & Wride LLC now owns 5,144 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $921,000 after purchasing an additional 93 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 a diversified healthcare services company that owns and operates hospitals, outpatient centers, and other healthcare facilities. Its operations are organized primarily around acute care hospitals and behavioral health services.

The company’s acute care facilities provide services such as general hospital care, emergency medicine, surgery, imaging, women’s health, and specialized treatment programs. Its behavioral health facilities offer inpatient and outpatient care for mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and related behavioral health needs.