Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Cut to “Hold” at Zacks Research

Zacks Research lowered shares of Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note published on Monday,Zacks.com reports.

UHS has been the subject of several other research reports. Wall Street Zen cut Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, February 28th. UBS Group reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Raymond James Financial set a $270.00 price target on Universal Health Services and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. Cantor Fitzgerald dropped their price objective on Universal Health Services from $250.00 to $229.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 27th. Finally, Guggenheim raised their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $253.00 to $274.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 2nd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $232.21.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 1.2%

NYSE UHS opened at $202.33 on Monday. Universal Health Services has a 52 week low of $152.33 and a 52 week high of $246.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a current ratio of 1.05. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $214.53 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $211.46. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.74, a PEG ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 1.26.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 25th. The health services provider reported $5.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.92 by ($0.04). Universal Health Services had a net margin of 8.57% and a return on equity of 19.65%. The business had revenue of $4.49 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.50 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $4.92 earnings per share. Universal Health Services’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.1% on a year-over-year basis. Universal Health Services has set its FY 2026 guidance at 22.640-24.520 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 2nd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.4%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 3.46%.

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Stephens Inc. AR lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 4.2% during the third quarter. Stephens Inc. AR now owns 1,250 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $256,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated now owns 3,512 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $718,000 after buying an additional 52 shares in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 4.1% during the 4th quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 1,390 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $303,000 after acquiring an additional 55 shares during the period. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.3% during the 3rd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,794 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $367,000 after acquiring an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Avanza Fonder AB increased its stake in Universal Health Services by 6.1% in the fourth quarter. Avanza Fonder AB now owns 1,027 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $224,000 after acquiring an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Company Profile

Universal Health Services, Inc (NYSE: UHS) is one of the largest diversified health care management companies in the United States, offering a broad spectrum of services through its acute care hospital and behavioral health segments. The company operates general acute care hospitals, surgical hospitals and ambulatory centers, as well as inpatient and outpatient behavioral health facilities. Its network provides emergency and specialized medicine, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, advanced surgical care and rehabilitation, complemented by a comprehensive array of behavioral services including psychiatric treatment, addiction programs and developmental disabilities care.

In the acute care segment, UHS’s facilities deliver services ranging from emergency department treatment and intensive care to maternity care and outpatient surgery.