Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Receives $234.13 Average PT from Analysts

Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) have earned a consensus recommendation of “Hold” from the sixteen research firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $234.1333.

Several research analysts have issued reports on the company. Cantor Fitzgerald increased their price objective 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. Raymond James Financial set a $270.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. UBS Group reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Zacks Research raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 27th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an “equal weight” rating and issued a $235.00 target price (down from $259.00) on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, January 7th.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

NYSE UHS opened at $234.86 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.16, a PEG ratio of 0.74 and a beta of 1.26. The business’s 50 day moving average is $215.39 and its two-hundred day moving average is $207.07. Universal Health Services has a 12-month low of $152.33 and a 12-month high of $246.32. The company has a current ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Investors of record on Monday, March 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 2nd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.3%. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is currently 3.80%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. FORA Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter valued at about $437,000. Stifel Financial Corp lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 15.5% during the fourth quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 7,085 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $1,545,000 after buying an additional 950 shares during the period. Quarry LP acquired a new position in Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter valued at $414,000. Bridgefront Capital LLC acquired a new position in Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter valued at $555,000. Finally, Exome Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 121.6% during the 4th quarter. Exome Asset Management LLC now owns 17,628 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $3,843,000 after purchasing an additional 9,673 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.