Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Posts Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.71 EPS

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The health services provider reported $4.92 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.21 by $0.71, Zacks reports. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. Universal Health Services updated its FY 2025 guidance to 18.450-19.950 EPS.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 5.2 %

UHS stock traded down $9.90 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $179.11. 1,149,515 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 557,380. 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 market cap of $11.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.30. Universal Health Services has a 1 year low of $152.68 and a 1 year high of $243.25. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $184.35 and its two-hundred day moving average is $205.64.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd will be paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.45%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 3rd. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is 5.32%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have weighed in on UHS shares. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 25th. TD Cowen lowered their target price on Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, November 26th. Bank of America began coverage on Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 price target on the stock. StockNews.com cut Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, November 9th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald raised Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $226.14.

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total value of $308,516.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 5,879 shares in the company, valued at $1,123,770.85. The trade was a 21.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Insiders own 16.10% 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.