Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Announces Earnings Results

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) issued its earnings results on Wednesday. The health services provider reported $5.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.92 by ($0.04), Zacks reports. The business had revenue of $4.49 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.50 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.47% and a net margin of 8.09%.The business’s revenue was up 9.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $4.92 EPS. Universal Health Services updated its FY 2026 guidance to 22.640-24.520 EPS.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 0.3%

UHS opened at $230.78 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 1.03. The company has a market capitalization of $14.42 billion, a PE ratio of 10.96, a P/E/G ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 1.26. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $216.73 and its 200-day moving average is $210.48. Universal Health Services has a one year low of $152.33 and a one year high of $246.32.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

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

Universal Health Services News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Universal Health Services this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Fourth-quarter profitability jumped: UHS reported a roughly 30% increase in net income and an 11.5% operating margin for 2025, signaling better cost/control and higher earnings quality, which supports valuation and cash flow expectations. UHS posts 11.5% operating margin in 2025 as net income jumps 30%
• Neutral Sentiment: UHS issued FY2026 guidance of $22.640–$24.520 EPS and revenue guidance $18.4B–$18.8B; revenue guidance is slightly above consensus while the EPS range leaves room for variability — a mixed signal that reduces surprise risk but doesn’t fully resolve near-term demand concerns. UNIVERSAL HEALTH SERVICES, INC. ANNOUNCES FINANCIAL RESULTS … OPERATING RESULTS FORECAST FOR THE FULL YEAR OF 2026
• Neutral Sentiment: Company expansion plans and long-term growth strategy are being evaluated against the current margin gains and demand risks; this frames UHS as a longer-term growth/earnings play rather than a near-term momentum stock. Universal Health Services Expansion Tests Long Term Growth And Risk Balance
• Negative Sentiment: UHS slightly missed Q4 estimates — reported $5.88 EPS vs. $5.92 expected and revenue $4.49B vs. $4.50B expected — which, together with commentary about softer admissions, pressured sentiment. The miss was small but highlights near-term demand weakness. Universal Health Services misses quarterly profit estimates on lower medical care demand
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst/market commentary is flagging valuation and index implications — after the mixed print attention turns to whether UHS’s pressure could matter for S&P 500 dynamics and re-rating risk if demand softness persists. Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Valuation After Pressure Now Matters To S&P 500

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter valued at about $508,000. Corient Private Wealth LLC raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 348.7% during the fourth quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 162,985 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $35,534,000 after acquiring an additional 126,662 shares during the period. Alberta Investment Management Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $5,232,000. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV boosted its stake in Universal Health Services by 29.8% in the 4th quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 15,160 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $3,305,000 after purchasing an additional 3,482 shares during the period. Finally, First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. grew its position in Universal Health Services by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. now owns 56,177 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $12,248,000 after purchasing an additional 1,217 shares in the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently commented on UHS shares. Guggenheim upped their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $253.00 to $274.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Royal Bank Of Canada restated a “sector perform” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an “equal weight” rating and set a $235.00 price target (down from $259.00) on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Morgan Stanley set a $233.00 price objective on Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Barclays decreased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $263.00 to $262.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $234.13.

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.