Wells Fargo & Company Issues Pessimistic Forecast for Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Stock Price

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) had its target price decreased by Wells Fargo & Company from $230.00 to $225.00 in a research report issued on Monday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an “overweight” rating on the health services provider’s stock. Wells Fargo & Company‘s target price would suggest a potential upside of 28.71% from the stock’s previous close.

Several other equities research analysts also recently commented on UHS. Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Stephens lifted their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research report on Monday, December 16th. TD Cowen lowered their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Finally, Barclays cut their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $271.00 to $249.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $230.75.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 1.2 %

UHS traded up $2.15 during trading on Monday, hitting $174.81. 53,404 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 695,783. Universal Health Services has a 1 year low of $152.68 and a 1 year high of $243.25. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $183.85 and a 200 day moving average price of $202.97. The firm has a market cap of $11.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.32. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

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

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total transaction 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 ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of UHS. QSM Asset Management Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter valued at about $7,045,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH acquired a new position in Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $8,495,000. Forum Financial Management LP grew its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 20.0% during the fourth quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 1,953 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $350,000 after purchasing an additional 326 shares during the last quarter. GF Fund Management CO. LTD. acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth approximately $254,000. Finally, Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter worth approximately $5,709,000. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Company Profile

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.