Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Shares Gap Down – What’s Next?

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) gapped down before the market opened on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $152.77, but opened at $145.00. Universal Health Services shares last traded at $145.3870, with a volume of 208,091 shares changing hands.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UHS has been the subject of several recent research reports. Guggenheim cut their price target on Universal Health Services from $238.00 to $211.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Barclays downgraded Universal Health Services from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and set a $179.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on Universal Health Services from $233.00 to $212.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. TD Cowen reduced their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $197.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, June 22nd. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald decreased their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $229.00 to $194.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $212.94.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $8.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.03, a P/E/G ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a current ratio of 1.08. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $153.93 and its two-hundred day moving average is $184.17.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $5.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.41 by $0.21. The business had revenue of $4.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.39 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.57% and a net margin of 8.56%.Universal Health Services’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $4.84 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 23.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 18th. Investors of record on Monday, June 8th were given a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 8th. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 3.33%.

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. Elyxium Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Founders Capital Management purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 503.1% during the second quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 193 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 161 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the second quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

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.