Barclays PLC Reduces Stock Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

Barclays PLC cut its holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 18.6% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 143,768 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 32,933 shares during the quarter. Barclays PLC owned about 0.23% of Universal Health Services worth $29,392,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. Pzena Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 310.2% during the third quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 1,607,029 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $328,541,000 after buying an additional 1,215,286 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 2nd quarter worth about $83,333,000. Nomura Holdings Inc. grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 100.6% during the 2nd quarter. Nomura Holdings Inc. now owns 2,560 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $464,000 after purchasing an additional 426,211 shares during the last quarter. Varenne Capital Partners acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the third quarter valued at about $37,670,000. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 13.8% in the third quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,494,464 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $305,510,000 after purchasing an additional 181,801 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 2.3%

Shares of NYSE UHS opened at $186.18 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $11.37 billion, a PE ratio of 8.04, a P/E/G ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 1.26. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12-month low of $152.33 and a 12-month high of $246.32. The company has a 50-day moving average of $211.74 and a 200 day moving average of $211.91.

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

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

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

Key Universal Health Services News

Here are the key news stories impacting Universal Health Services this week:

• Positive Sentiment: UHS agreed to acquire Talkspace for $5.25 per share (~$835 million) to expand its virtual behavioral‑health and outpatient strategy — a strategic move that could accelerate digital mental‑health revenue and create a hybrid care model. Universal Health Services, Inc. to Acquire Talkspace, Inc.
• Positive Sentiment: Major media coverage framed the deal as a push into high‑demand mental‑health services, underscoring potential revenue growth from telebehavioral care. Universal Health strikes $835 million Talkspace deal in mental health push
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst commentary (Zacks) highlights the acquisition’s upside potential to accelerate growth and build a hybrid behavioral care model — an argument that could support a higher long‑term valuation if integration succeeds. Can Universal Health’s $835M Acquisition of Talkspace Accelerate Growth?
• Neutral Sentiment: UHS drew attention within S&P 500 healthcare coverage today — increased visibility can boost trading volume but doesn’t change fundamentals on its own. Universal Health (NYSE:UHS) Gains Attention In S&P 500 Today Healthcare
• Neutral Sentiment: Management presentations at Barclays and Leerink provide incremental transparency on strategy, guidance and integration plans — useful for investors but not immediate catalysts by themselves. Barclays 28th Annual Global Healthcare Conference Transcript Leerink Global Healthcare Conference 2026 Transcript
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage notes management is balancing AI and behavioral‑health growth with evolving regulatory rules — a strategic opportunity but also a source of execution and compliance risk. Universal Health Services Weighs AI And Behavioral Growth Against New Rules
• Negative Sentiment: Kehoe Law Firm announced an investor alert investigating potential breach of fiduciary duty claims against UHS — litigation/investigations can pressure the stock through legal costs, management distraction and negative sentiment. Kehoe Law Firm P.C.: Universal Health Services Investor Alert (duplicate coverage)
• Negative Sentiment: Additional press releases syndicating the Kehoe investigation amplify legal‑risk headlines and could extend selling pressure while details remain sparse. Universal Health Services Investor Alert: Kehoe Law Firm, P.C.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently commented on UHS. Wall Street Zen downgraded Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, February 28th. Guggenheim raised their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $253.00 to $274.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Cantor Fitzgerald decreased their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $250.00 to $229.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 27th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $262.00 to $268.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 26th. Finally, Zacks Research cut shares of Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, March 2nd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Universal Health Services has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $232.21.

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.