Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Hits New 12-Month High After Analyst Upgrade

Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday after Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price target on the stock from $206.00 to $231.00. Royal Bank Of Canada currently has a sector performer rating on the stock. Universal Health Services traded as high as $227.22 and last traded at $225.3740, with a volume of 1020176 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $219.32.

Several other research analysts also recently weighed in on the stock. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, October 11th. Zacks Research raised Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday. Barclays increased their target price on Universal Health Services from $250.00 to $263.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Mizuho set a $242.00 price objective on Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $230.57.

Insider Activity

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Elliot J. Md Mba Sussman sold 965 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $225.70, for a total value of $217,800.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 6,113 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,379,704.10. This trade represents a 13.63% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 16.40% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of UHS. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $87,373,000. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $83,333,000. Nomura Holdings Inc. raised its position in Universal Health Services by 100.6% in the second quarter. Nomura Holdings Inc. now owns 2,560 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $464,000 after purchasing an additional 426,211 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its position in Universal Health Services by 57.8% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 931,355 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $173,381,000 after purchasing an additional 340,966 shares during the period. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its position in Universal Health Services by 329.4% in the first quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 404,806 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $76,081,000 after purchasing an additional 310,531 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. The company has a market cap of $13.90 billion, a PE ratio of 10.37, a P/E/G ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.30. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $197.25 and a 200 day simple moving average of $184.57.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, October 27th. The health services provider reported $5.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.66 by $1.03. The firm had revenue of $4.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.32 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 8.09% and a return on equity of 19.47%. Universal Health Services’s revenue was up 13.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $3.71 EPS. Universal Health Services has set its FY 2025 guidance at 21.500-22.100 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Company Profile

Universal Health Services, Inc, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates acute care hospitals, and outpatient and behavioral health care facilities. It operates through Acute Care Hospital Services and Behavioral Health Care Services segments. The company's hospitals offer general and specialty surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics, emergency room care, radiology, oncology, diagnostic and coronary care, pediatric services, pharmacy services, and/or behavioral health services.