Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Shares Up 3.4% – What’s Next?

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)’s share price shot up 3.4% on Wednesday. The company traded as high as $184.58 and last traded at $185.3070. 59,419 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 93% from the average daily volume of 861,309 shares. The stock had previously closed at $179.29.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UHS has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. TD Cowen decreased their price objective 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. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on Universal Health Services from $212.00 to $191.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Barclays reduced their price target on Universal Health Services from $179.00 to $168.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, July 28th. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on Universal Health Services from $204.00 to $166.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $194.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $204.94.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 2.4%

The stock has a market cap of $10.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.21, a P/E/G ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a current ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $169.97 and its 200 day moving average is $167.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 28th. The health services provider reported $5.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.94 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $4.64 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.58 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 8.42% and a return on equity of 19.39%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 8.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $5.35 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 22.96 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 1st were given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 1st. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is currently 3.26%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of UHS. First Eagle Investment Management LLC increased its position in Universal Health Services by 2.9% during the second quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 4,554,670 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $677,234,000 after acquiring an additional 130,389 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its position in Universal Health Services by 12.1% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,781,262 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $318,812,000 after purchasing an additional 192,351 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,226,577 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $219,520,000 after purchasing an additional 20,577 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth about $199,334,000. Finally, Allianz Asset Management GmbH raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 13.6% during the second quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 377,986 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $56,203,000 after buying an additional 45,310 shares during the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Company Profile

Universal Health Services, Inc (NYSE: UHS) is a healthcare services company that owns and operates hospitals, outpatient facilities and other healthcare organizations. Its operations are primarily focused on acute care and behavioral health services, serving patients through a network of hospitals, treatment centers and ambulatory facilities.

The company’s acute care activities include general and specialty hospitals that provide services such as emergency care, surgery, inpatient treatment and diagnostic procedures.