Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Upgraded to Neutral by Cantor Fitzgerald

Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded shares of Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) from an underweight rating to a neutral rating in a research note released on Friday morning, MarketBeat reports. The brokerage currently has $219.00 price target on the health services provider’s stock, up from their previous price target of $162.00.

Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the company. Stephens reaffirmed an equal weight rating and set a $200.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Thursday, July 25th. Robert W. Baird upgraded Universal Health Services from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $198.00 to $236.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 26th. UBS Group upgraded Universal Health Services from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the company from $189.00 to $226.00 in a report on Monday, May 20th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on Universal Health Services from $183.00 to $189.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Tuesday, May 7th. Finally, Baird R W raised Universal Health Services from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 26th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Universal Health Services has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $209.00.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

UHS stock opened at $217.43 on Friday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $186.31 and a 200 day simple moving average of $174.51. The company has a market capitalization of $14.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.43, a PEG ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a quick ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. Universal Health Services has a fifty-two week low of $119.90 and a fifty-two week high of $219.61.

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

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

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

Universal Health Services announced that its board has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, July 24th that allows the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the health services provider to reacquire up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are generally an indication that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Eileen C. Mcdonnell sold 2,535 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.55, for a total value of $531,209.25. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,413 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,343,844.15. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other Universal Health Services news, EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $210.85, for a total value of $3,192,479.85. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,253 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,107,595.05. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Eileen C. Mcdonnell sold 2,535 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.55, for a total transaction of $531,209.25. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,413 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,343,844.15. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 16.7% in the fourth quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 53,239 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $8,116,000 after purchasing an additional 7,616 shares during the period. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 5.2% in the 4th quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 29,932 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $4,570,000 after buying an additional 1,476 shares in the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 4,906.0% during the 4th quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 3,354 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $511,000 after acquiring an additional 3,287 shares during the period. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 7.2% during the 4th quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 3,383 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $516,000 after acquiring an additional 228 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GHP Investment Advisors Inc. increased its stake in Universal Health Services by 4.1% in the fourth quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 34,178 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $5,210,000 after acquiring an additional 1,350 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.