Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Receives “Equal Weight” Rating from Stephens

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS)‘s stock had its “equal weight” rating reaffirmed by investment analysts at Stephens in a report released on Thursday,Benzinga reports. They presently have a $210.00 price target on the health services provider’s stock. Stephens’ target price suggests a potential upside of 7.80% from the stock’s current price.

A number of other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports on UHS. The Goldman Sachs Group cut Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 25th. Barclays cut their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $271.00 to $249.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday. Bank of America began coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 price objective for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $226.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $225.29.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of UHS stock traded up $14.69 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $194.81. 424,031 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 550,458. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.95, a P/E/G ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.30. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $184.38 and a 200 day simple moving average of $205.46. Universal Health Services has a 52-week low of $152.68 and a 52-week high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.21 by $0.71. The business had revenue of $4.11 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.01 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. Research analysts predict that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

In related news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred 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 sale, 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 position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in UHS. R Squared Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Quent Capital LLC grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 118.3% during the fourth quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 179 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the third quarter valued at about $39,000. Huntington National Bank increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 414.3% in the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 145 shares during the period. Finally, Campbell Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter valued at about $46,000. 86.05% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.