Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Stock Price Expected to Rise, Cantor Fitzgerald Analyst Says

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) had its price objective increased by analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald from $227.00 to $250.00 in a report issued on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has a “neutral” rating on the health services provider’s stock. Cantor Fitzgerald’s target price would suggest a potential upside of 14.50% from the stock’s previous close.

A number of other equities research analysts have also weighed in on UHS. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $219.00 price objective for the company. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $249.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 7th. Guggenheim raised their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $227.00 to $253.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $215.00 to $195.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, August 4th. Finally, Bank of America downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating and cut their target price for the company from $215.00 to $185.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Universal Health Services has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $230.57.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 3.1%

Shares of UHS opened at $218.35 on Wednesday. Universal Health Services has a 1-year low of $152.33 and a 1-year high of $227.22. The company has a 50-day moving average of $197.25 and a 200 day moving average of $184.57. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.37, a PEG ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 1.19.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, October 27th. The health services provider reported $5.69 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.66 by $1.03. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 8.09% and a return on equity of 19.47%. The company had revenue of $4.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.32 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $3.71 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 13.4% on a year-over-year basis. Universal Health Services has set its FY 2025 guidance at 21.500-22.100 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Elliot J. Md Mba Sussman sold 965 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $225.70, for a total value of $217,800.50. Following the transaction, the director owned 6,113 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,379,704.10. The trade was a 13.63% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 16.40% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of UHS. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $87,373,000. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $83,333,000. Nomura Holdings Inc. grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 100.6% in the 2nd quarter. Nomura Holdings Inc. now owns 2,560 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $464,000 after buying an additional 426,211 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 57.8% in the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 931,355 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $173,381,000 after buying an additional 340,966 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 329.4% in the 1st quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 404,806 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $76,081,000 after buying an additional 310,531 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors 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.