Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Stock Rating Reaffirmed by Stephens

Stephens restated their equal weight rating on shares of Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) in a research report released on Thursday morning, Benzinga reports. Stephens currently has a $200.00 price objective on the health services provider’s stock.

UHS has been the topic of several other research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $208.00 to $203.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 12th. TD Cowen lifted their target price on Universal Health Services from $181.00 to $183.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, April 30th. Barclays lifted their target price on Universal Health Services from $189.00 to $198.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, July 10th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Universal Health Services from $195.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, March 28th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Universal Health Services from $182.00 to $186.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, May 30th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $209.00.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

UHS stock opened at $213.69 on Thursday. Universal Health Services has a 52-week low of $119.90 and a 52-week high of $214.64. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $185.59 and its 200-day simple moving average is $174.10. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.89 and a beta of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 24th. The health services provider reported $4.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.37 by $0.94. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 6.22%. The business had revenue of $3.91 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.87 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.53 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that Universal Health Services will post 16.03 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services declared that its Board of Directors has approved a share buyback plan on Wednesday, July 24th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the health services provider to purchase up to 8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are typically an indication that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 3rd will be issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.37%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 6.78%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Inspire Investing LLC acquired a new position in Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at approximately $897,000. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 95.9% during the first quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board now owns 19,511 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $3,560,000 after buying an additional 9,549 shares during the period. Nordea Investment Management AB boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 27.9% during the first quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 65,643 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $11,998,000 after buying an additional 14,326 shares during the period. Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the first quarter worth approximately $738,000. Finally, Bessemer Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 5,033.3% during the first quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 7,084 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $1,292,000 after buying an additional 6,946 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.