Royal Bank of Canada Cuts Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Price Target to $201.00

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) had its price target lowered by Royal Bank of Canada from $211.00 to $201.00 in a report issued on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a sector perform rating on the health services provider’s stock.

Several other equities research analysts have also commented on the company. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, March 10th. Baird R W downgraded Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 15th. Morgan Stanley began coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, March 26th. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $200.00 target price for the company. Cantor Fitzgerald raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Robert W. Baird reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $224.00 price objective (down previously from $274.00) on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, April 15th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $224.77.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 2.4 %

Shares of UHS stock opened at $178.88 on Wednesday. Universal Health Services has a 1-year low of $153.99 and a 1-year high of $243.25. The company has a market cap of $11.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.89, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $176.28 and a 200-day simple moving average of $188.02.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $4.84 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.36 by $0.48. The company had revenue of $4.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.16 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $3.70 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd were given a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.45%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 4.75%.

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total value of $179,160.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 7,916 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,418,230.56. The trade was a 11.22 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 16.40% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Barclays PLC grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 13.4% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 188,765 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $43,227,000 after buying an additional 22,369 shares in the last quarter. Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new position in Universal Health Services in the 3rd quarter valued at about $2,194,000. Pine Valley Investments Ltd Liability Co purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services during the third quarter worth about $201,000. World Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the third quarter valued at approximately $21,557,000. Finally, Tidal Investments LLC grew its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 208.0% in the third quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 12,100 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $2,771,000 after purchasing an additional 8,171 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Company Profile

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.