Universal Health Services, Inc. Forecasted to Earn Q3 2024 Earnings of $3.47 Per Share (NYSE:UHS)

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) – Zacks Research boosted their Q3 2024 EPS estimates for shares of Universal Health Services in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, August 7th. Zacks Research analyst D. Chatterjee now forecasts that the health services provider will earn $3.47 per share for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $2.98. The consensus estimate for Universal Health Services’ current full-year earnings is $15.96 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Universal Health Services’ Q4 2024 earnings at $3.92 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $15.40 EPS, Q1 2025 earnings at $3.61 EPS, Q2 2025 earnings at $3.77 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $3.96 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $4.07 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $15.41 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $4.44 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $4.63 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $18.40 EPS.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 24th. The health services provider reported $4.31 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.37 by $0.94. The firm had revenue of $3.91 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.87 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.22% and a return on equity of 14.91%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.53 EPS.

Several other research analysts have also commented on UHS. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $183.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 7th. UBS Group upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their price target for the stock from $189.00 to $226.00 in a research note on Monday, May 20th. Robert W. Baird upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating and increased their price target for the stock from $198.00 to $236.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 26th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from an “underweight” rating to a “neutral” rating and increased their price target for the stock from $162.00 to $219.00 in a research note on Friday, July 26th. 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. According to MarketBeat, Universal Health Services currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $216.31.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of UHS opened at $215.22 on Friday. The company’s fifty day moving average is $192.45 and its 200-day moving average is $178.00. Universal Health Services has a 12 month low of $119.90 and a 12 month high of $219.61. The firm has a market cap of $14.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.70 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.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter valued at about $32,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its holdings in 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 valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares during the last quarter. Innealta Capital LLC bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the 2nd quarter valued at about $35,000. Mather Group LLC. bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter valued at about $36,000. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Eileen C. Mcdonnell sold 2,535 shares of the 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 completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 6,413 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,343,844.15. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $210.85, for a total transaction of $3,192,479.85. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,253 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,107,595.05. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Eileen C. Mcdonnell sold 2,535 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 26th. The stock was 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 $1,343,844.15. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 18,526 shares of company stock valued at $3,903,983 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd will be issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.37%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 6.78%.

Universal Health Services announced that its board has authorized a stock repurchase 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 reacquire up to 8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are generally a sign that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

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.