Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Price Target Lowered to $195.00 at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) had its price objective lowered by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $215.00 to $195.00 in a report published on Monday,Benzinga reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. currently has a neutral rating on the health services provider’s stock.

A number of other analysts have also recently issued reports on UHS. Guggenheim began coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. They set a “buy” rating and a $208.00 target price for the company. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $211.00 to $201.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $257.00 to $259.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Bank of America cut shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $215.00 to $185.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Saturday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $216.54.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

NYSE UHS opened at $164.91 on Monday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $176.52 and a 200 day simple moving average of $179.68. Universal Health Services has a 52-week low of $152.33 and a 52-week high of $243.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a current ratio of 1.29. The stock has a market cap of $10.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.68, a PEG ratio of 0.67 and a beta of 1.24.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its earnings results on Monday, July 28th. The health services provider reported $5.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.85 by $0.50. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 18.22% and a net margin of 7.66%. The business had revenue of $4.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.24 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $4.31 EPS. Universal Health Services’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 2nd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 4.21%.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,097 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.48, for a total transaction of $210,053.56. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 7,884 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,509,628.32. This trade represents a 12.21% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 16.40% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter worth about $30,000. Sentry Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the first quarter worth $35,000. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 49.3% during the first quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 203 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 89.7% during the first quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 258 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $48,000 after buying an additional 122 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Huntington National Bank lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 55.6% during the fourth quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 280 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $50,000 after buying an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

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.