Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) PT Lowered to $275.00

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) had its target price reduced by equities researchers at TD Cowen from $283.00 to $275.00 in a note issued to investors on Monday, Benzinga reports. The firm presently has a “buy” rating on the health services provider’s stock. TD Cowen’s price target would suggest a potential upside of 34.83% from the stock’s previous close.

UHS has been the topic of a number of other research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $229.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. Stephens reissued an “equal weight” rating and issued a $200.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Thursday, July 25th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, October 19th. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $247.00 to $267.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 14th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $231.00.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 0.6 %

UHS traded up $1.21 on Monday, reaching $203.96. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 214,645 shares, compared to its average volume of 670,112. The company has a market capitalization of $13.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.57, a P/E/G ratio of 0.67 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Universal Health Services has a fifty-two week low of $121.55 and a fifty-two week high of $243.25. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $229.55 and a two-hundred day moving average of $201.23.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.75 by ($0.04). Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The firm had revenue of $3.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.90 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.55 EPS. Universal Health Services’s revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts forecast that Universal Health Services will post 15.9 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services announced that its board has authorized a share repurchase plan on Wednesday, July 24th that permits the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization permits the health services provider to reacquire up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are often a sign that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Nina Chen-Langenmayr sold 850 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.11, for a total value of $180,293.50. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 1,985 shares in the company, valued at $421,038.35. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Universal Health Services news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, August 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $217.64, for a total transaction of $749,552.16. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,971 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $864,248.44. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Nina Chen-Langenmayr sold 850 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $212.11, for a total value of $180,293.50. Following the transaction, the director now owns 1,985 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $421,038.35. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 16.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Point72 Asset Management L.P. grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 362.3% in the 2nd quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 322,626 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $59,663,000 after buying an additional 252,846 shares in the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 357.9% during the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 261,221 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $48,308,000 after acquiring an additional 204,178 shares during the period. Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 1,191.8% during the first quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 215,215 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $39,267,000 after purchasing an additional 198,555 shares during the last quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC purchased a new position in Universal Health Services during the first quarter valued at approximately $25,032,000. Finally, Pzena Investment Management LLC grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 41.2% during the 1st quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 455,773 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $83,160,000 after acquiring an additional 132,942 shares during the period. 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.