Universal Technical Institute (NYSE:UTI) Downgraded to Sell Rating by Wall Street Zen

Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Universal Technical Institute (NYSE:UTI) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report published on Saturday.

Other analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Barrington Research reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $36.00 price target on shares of Universal Technical Institute in a report on Thursday. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of Universal Technical Institute in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Rosenblatt Securities restated a “buy” rating and issued a $36.00 price target on shares of Universal Technical Institute in a research note on Thursday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $36.20.

Universal Technical Institute Stock Up 3.0%

Shares of UTI opened at $25.50 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.29, a PEG ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 1.36. Universal Technical Institute has a 52 week low of $21.29 and a 52 week high of $36.32. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $26.70 and its 200-day moving average price is $28.20. The company has a quick ratio of 1.07, a current ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29.

Universal Technical Institute (NYSE:UTI) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $0.23 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.15 by $0.08. Universal Technical Institute had a return on equity of 16.98% and a net margin of 6.28%.The company had revenue of $220.84 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $216.65 million. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Universal Technical Institute will post 1 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity at Universal Technical Institute

In related news, Director Coliseum Capital Management, L purchased 191,830 shares of Universal Technical Institute stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 5th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $25.38 per share, for a total transaction of $4,868,645.40. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 3,971,440 shares in the company, valued at approximately $100,795,147.20. This trade represents a 5.08% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders have bought a total of 1,255,173 shares of company stock worth $30,812,798 over the last three months. 9.80% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Technical Institute

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in UTI. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Technical Institute during the second quarter worth approximately $27,000. Penserra Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Universal Technical Institute during the 2nd quarter worth $28,000. KBC Group NV purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Technical Institute during the second quarter worth $34,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Universal Technical Institute by 17,142.9% in the second quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 1,207 shares of the company’s stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 1,200 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Technical Institute in the first quarter valued at about $57,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.67% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Universal Technical Institute

Here are the key news stories impacting Universal Technical Institute this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 beat — UTI reported Q1 FY2026 results that topped consensus: $0.23 EPS vs. $0.15 expected and revenue above estimates, signaling revenue and margin momentum. UTI Surpasses Q1 Earnings and Revenue Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst reaffirmations — Barrington Research and Rosenblatt Securities both reaffirmed bullish ratings and set $36 price targets (roughly ~41% above the current price), providing third‑party validation of upside potential. Benzinga
• Positive Sentiment: Operational growth catalysts — Company discussions and coverage highlight new campus expansion and program launches that could support enrollment and revenue growth going forward. UTI Q4 Deep Dive: New Campus Expansion and Program Launches Shape Outlook
• Positive Sentiment: Quarterly/seasonal strength confirmation — Coverage notes UTI exceeded fourth-quarter CY2025 expectations, reinforcing the view that recent results are not an anomaly. Universal Technical Institute (NYSE:UTI) Exceeds Q4 CY2025 Expectations
• Neutral Sentiment: Guidance is range-bound — Management updated FY2026 revenue guidance to about $905M–$915M (near consensus), which suggests steady growth but not a large upward revision; investors will watch cadence and margin assumptions. Universal Technical Institute Reports Fiscal Year 2026 First Quarter Results
• Neutral Sentiment: Investor detail available — Full earnings call transcript and highlights provide management commentary on enrollment, margins and US workforce demand that investors should read to assess sustainability of recent beats. UTI Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript UTI Q1 2026 Earnings Call Highlights
• Neutral Sentiment: PR visibility — CEO Jerome Grant issued a CTE Month statement emphasizing UTI/Concorde scale (~32,000 students) and the company’s role in workforce training — good for brand and enrollment marketing but not an immediate financial catalyst. CEO Jerome Grant Highlights Skilled Collar and Healthcare Workers’ Contributions

About Universal Technical Institute

Universal Technical Institute, Inc (NYSE: UTI) is a leading provider of post-secondary education for students pursuing careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians, as well as in welding and CNC machining. The company designs and delivers hands-on training through a blend of classroom instruction and experiential lab work, preparing graduates for entry-level positions in the transportation, manufacturing and energy sectors. UTI’s curriculum emphasizes industry-recognized credentials and proprietary coursework developed in collaboration with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to ensure alignment with evolving employer needs.

Through a network of campus locations across the United States and select centers in Canada, Universal Technical Institute offers diploma and certificate programs ranging from 36 to 74 weeks in length.