Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Receives $154.58 Average PT from Analysts

Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS – Get Rating) have been given an average recommendation of “Hold” by the fifteen ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, five have issued a hold recommendation and four have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $154.58.

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on UHS shares. Barclays cut their price target on Universal Health Services from $160.00 to $141.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, December 21st. Seaport Res Ptn downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note on Sunday, February 27th. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $162.00 to $167.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 1st. SVB Leerink boosted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $136.00 to $139.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research note on Monday, February 28th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $124.00 to $134.00 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a research note on Monday, March 7th.

In related news, Director Lawrence S. Gibbs sold 1,307 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $153.00, for a total transaction of $199,971.00. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Eileen C. Mcdonnell sold 296 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $141.17, for a total value of $41,786.32. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 13.40% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. CHURCHILL MANAGEMENT Corp bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the first quarter valued at about $9,125,000. Atalanta Sosnoff Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 17.6% during the first quarter. Atalanta Sosnoff Capital LLC now owns 69,710 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $10,104,000 after purchasing an additional 10,425 shares during the last quarter. DNB Asset Management AS purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the first quarter valued at $1,645,000. Pacer Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 93.5% during the first quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 7,256 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $1,052,000 after purchasing an additional 3,506 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Birch Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 144.4% during the first quarter. Birch Capital Management LLC now owns 1,953 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $283,000 after purchasing an additional 1,154 shares during the last quarter. 86.00% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Universal Health Services stock traded down $0.35 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $148.92. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 4,583 shares, compared to its average volume of 671,775. Universal Health Services has a fifty-two week low of $116.23 and a fifty-two week high of $165.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.14. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $142.64 and its 200 day simple moving average is $134.22. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.14 billion, a PE ratio of 12.63, a P/E/G ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 1.06.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS – Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 24th. The health services provider reported $2.95 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.83 by $0.12. The company had revenue of $3.28 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.13 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.41% and a net margin of 7.84%. Universal Health Services’s quarterly revenue was up 6.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $3.59 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that Universal Health Services will post 12.5 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback program on Thursday, February 24th that permits the company to buyback $1.40 billion in shares. This buyback authorization permits the health services provider to buy up to 12.1% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally a sign that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 1st were issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.54%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 28th. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is currently 6.77%.

About Universal Health Services (Get Rating)

Universal Health Services, Inc, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates acute care hospitals, and outpatient and behavioral health care facilities. The company operates through Acute Care Hospital Services and Behavioral Health Care Services segments. Its hospitals offer general and specialty surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics, emergency room care, radiology, oncology, diagnostic and coronary care, pediatric services, pharmacy services, and/or behavioral health services.

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