Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Receives $233.20 Consensus PT from Brokerages

Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) have received a consensus recommendation of “Hold” from the seventeen ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $233.20.

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Saturday, October 11th. Mizuho set a $242.00 price objective on Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $219.00 target price on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald raised their price target on Universal Health Services from $227.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Zacks Research raised Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 27th.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Elliot J. Md Mba Sussman sold 965 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $225.70, for a total value of $217,800.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 6,113 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,379,704.10. The trade was a 13.63% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 16.40% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of UHS. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 320.0% during the third quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 126 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 96 shares during the period. Root Financial Partners LLC acquired a new position in Universal Health Services in the 3rd quarter valued at $28,000. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC acquired a new position in Universal Health Services in the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter worth $30,000. Finally, MUFG Securities EMEA plc acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the second quarter worth $31,000. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 1.2%

Universal Health Services stock opened at $229.07 on Wednesday. Universal Health Services has a fifty-two week low of $152.33 and a fifty-two week high of $229.76. The firm has a market capitalization of $14.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.33. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $202.22 and its two-hundred day moving average is $186.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a current ratio of 1.03.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The health services provider reported $5.69 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.66 by $1.03. The business 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%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 13.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $3.71 EPS. Analysts predict that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About Universal Health Services

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.