Universal Health Services, Inc. Plans Quarterly Dividend of $0.20 (NYSE:UHS)

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) announced a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, November 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 1st will be paid a dividend of 0.20 per share by the health services provider on Monday, December 15th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 1st.

Universal Health Services has increased its dividend payment by an average of 0.1%per year over the last three years. Universal Health Services has a dividend payout ratio of 3.7% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect Universal Health Services to earn $17.69 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.80 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 4.5%.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 1.1%

NYSE UHS opened at $228.90 on Wednesday. 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 firm has a market cap of $14.30 billion, a PE ratio of 10.87, a P/E/G ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.33. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $208.02 and its 200-day simple moving average is $189.59. Universal Health Services has a 52 week low of $152.33 and a 52 week high of $231.37.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The health services provider reported $5.69 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.66 by $1.03. The business had revenue of $4.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations 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% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $3.71 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UHS has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed a “sector perform” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $250.00 to $263.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. Robert W. Baird dropped their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $243.00 to $203.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, August 14th. UBS Group set a $231.00 price target on Universal Health Services in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $233.00 price target on Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $233.87.

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.