Morgan Stanley Begins Coverage on Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS)

Analysts at Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on shares of Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) in a report issued on Wednesday,Briefing.com Automated Import reports. The brokerage set an “equal weight” rating and a $200.00 price target on the health services provider’s stock. Morgan Stanley’s target price would suggest a potential upside of 7.69% from the company’s previous close.

UHS has been the subject of a number of other research reports. TD Cowen decreased their target price on shares of 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated a “neutral” rating and set a $226.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Barclays cut their target price on Universal Health Services from $271.00 to $249.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, March 10th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $228.38.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Universal Health Services stock opened at $185.72 on Wednesday. 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 company has a market cap of $12.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.32. Universal Health Services has a fifty-two week low of $152.69 and a fifty-two week high of $243.25. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $181.82 and its 200-day simple moving average is $197.84.

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

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total transaction of $179,160.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 7,916 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,418,230.56. The trade was a 11.22 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 16.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter worth $67,964,000. Invesco Ltd. increased its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 25.6% during the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,241,340 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $222,721,000 after purchasing an additional 253,385 shares in the last quarter. Amundi lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 189.5% during the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 360,070 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $68,532,000 after purchasing an additional 235,689 shares during the last quarter. Freestone Grove Partners LP bought a new stake in Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter worth about $41,155,000. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 59.4% in the fourth quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 590,389 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $105,928,000 after acquiring an additional 219,942 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.05% 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.