What is Zacks Research’s Estimate for UHS FY2024 Earnings?

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) – Stock analysts at Zacks Research upped their FY2024 EPS estimates for Universal Health Services in a report released on Thursday, November 7th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now anticipates that the health services provider will earn $15.75 per share for the year, up from their previous estimate of $15.42. The consensus estimate for Universal Health Services’ current full-year earnings is $15.93 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Universal Health Services’ Q4 2024 earnings at $4.03 EPS, Q1 2025 earnings at $3.66 EPS, Q2 2025 earnings at $3.82 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $4.11 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $4.12 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $15.72 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $4.53 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $4.71 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $4.87 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $18.80 EPS.

Several other research analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on Universal Health Services from $222.00 to $211.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 28th. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $247.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 14th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $236.00 to $274.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. Finally, KeyCorp assumed coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 11th. They set a “sector weight” rating for the company. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $231.14.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 0.4 %

Shares of UHS stock opened at $207.50 on Monday. Universal Health Services has a 52-week low of $127.43 and a 52-week high of $243.25. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $224.42 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $204.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.39. The company has a market capitalization of $13.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.80, a PEG ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.29.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.75 by ($0.04). Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The business had revenue of $3.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.90 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.55 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year.

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Financial Management Professionals Inc. purchased a new position in Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter valued at about $32,000. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 1,284.6% in the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 167 shares during the period. Innealta Capital LLC purchased a new position in Universal Health Services during the second quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Huntington National Bank lifted its stake in Universal Health Services by 414.3% in the 3rd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares in the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Universal Health Services declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program on Wednesday, July 24th that allows the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the health services provider to purchase up to 8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are generally a sign that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

About Universal Health Services

Universal Health Services, Inc, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates acute care hospitals, and outpatient and behavioral health care facilities. It operates through Acute Care Hospital Services and Behavioral Health Care Services segments. The company's 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.