Cantor Fitzgerald Reiterates Neutral Rating for Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS)

Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed their neutral rating on shares of Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) in a report issued on Tuesday morning, Benzinga reports. Cantor Fitzgerald currently has a $219.00 price objective on the health services provider’s stock.

Several other analysts have also recently issued reports on UHS. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $255.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. TD Cowen raised their price target on Universal Health Services from $183.00 to $220.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on Universal Health Services from $189.00 to $222.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Monday, September 9th. Baird R W upgraded Universal Health Services from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 26th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Universal Health Services from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 17th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $224.92.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 3.9 %

Shares of NYSE UHS opened at $215.17 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $14.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.23, a PEG ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a current ratio of 1.28, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. Universal Health Services has a 12-month low of $119.90 and a 12-month high of $243.25. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $227.45 and its 200-day simple moving average is $195.65.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 24th. The health services provider reported $4.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.37 by $0.94. The business had revenue of $3.91 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.87 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 6.22%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.53 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that Universal Health Services will post 15.91 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services declared that its board has initiated a share buyback program on Wednesday, July 24th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the health services provider to buy up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are typically an indication that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd were given a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.37%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 6.78%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $217.64, for a total transaction of $749,552.16. Following the transaction, the director now owns 3,971 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $864,248.44. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, Director Nina Chen-Langenmayr sold 850 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.11, for a total transaction of $180,293.50. Following the sale, the director now owns 1,985 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $421,038.35. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $217.64, for a total value of $749,552.16. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 3,971 shares in the company, valued at approximately $864,248.44. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 21,970 shares of company stock valued at $4,653,535 over the last quarter. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. Blue Trust Inc. raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 1,284.6% during the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares during the last quarter. Innealta Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Mather Group LLC. acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter worth approximately $36,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

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.