Universal Health Services’ (UHS) Underweight Rating Reaffirmed at Cantor Fitzgerald

Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated their underweight rating on shares of Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) in a research note released on Tuesday morning, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a $162.00 price target on the health services provider’s stock.

A number of other analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Stephens reissued an equal weight rating and issued a $185.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Thursday, April 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $182.00 to $186.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, May 30th. Robert W. Baird raised shares of Universal Health Services from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $198.00 to $236.00 in a research report on Wednesday, June 26th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $208.00 to $203.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 12th. Finally, TD Cowen lifted their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $181.00 to $183.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has given 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 $194.21.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 0.3 %

UHS stock opened at $184.43 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 1.38 and a quick ratio of 1.28. The company has a 50-day moving average of $183.17 and a two-hundred day moving average of $171.43. Universal Health Services has a 52-week low of $119.90 and a 52-week high of $194.02. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 24th. The health services provider reported $3.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.14 by $0.56. The firm had revenue of $3.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.78 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 5.57% and a return on equity of 13.34%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 10.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.34 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services will post 13.83 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 3rd were paid a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 3rd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.43%. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is 6.78%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. purchased a new position in Universal Health Services during the first quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter worth approximately $36,000. Mather Group LLC. purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter worth approximately $36,000. Denali Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter worth approximately $37,000. Finally, LRI Investments LLC purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter worth approximately $43,000. 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.