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

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) has been given an average rating of “Hold” by the sixteen analysts that are covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $234.1333.

Several brokerages recently commented on UHS. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Guggenheim boosted their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $253.00 to $274.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 2nd. UBS Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised their target price on Universal Health Services from $227.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Barclays reduced their price target on Universal Health Services from $263.00 to $262.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 22nd.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 0.2%

Shares of UHS stock opened at $235.17 on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $215.77 and a 200 day moving average of $208.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 0.96. Universal Health Services has a 1-year low of $152.33 and a 1-year high of $246.32. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.69 billion, a PE ratio of 11.17, a P/E/G ratio of 0.74 and a beta of 1.26.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Investors of record on Monday, March 2nd will be paid a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 2nd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.3%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 3.80%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of UHS. Pzena Investment Management LLC raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 31.5% in the fourth quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 2,112,604 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $460,590,000 after buying an additional 505,575 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 6.3% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,588,911 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $346,447,000 after acquiring an additional 94,447 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 11.1% in the 2nd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,461,198 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $264,696,000 after acquiring an additional 145,730 shares in the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 7.1% in the 4th quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,206,000 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $262,932,000 after purchasing an additional 80,236 shares during the period. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.5% during the second quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 926,669 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $167,866,000 after purchasing an additional 31,201 shares in the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Universal Health Services

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.