Brokerages Set Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Target Price at $231.14

Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) have been given a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” by the sixteen analysts that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $225.50.

Several analysts recently commented on the company. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $219.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Friday, October 25th. UBS Group increased their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $247.00 to $267.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, November 9th.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 3.5 %

Shares of NYSE UHS opened at $206.13 on Wednesday. Universal Health Services has a 52-week low of $133.70 and a 52-week high of $243.25. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $217.31 and its 200-day simple moving average is $206.76. The firm has a market cap of $13.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 1.29.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share (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 during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.90 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.55 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts predict that Universal Health Services will post 15.93 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 3rd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.39%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 5.32%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of UHS. Tidal Investments LLC raised its holdings in Universal Health Services by 208.0% in the 3rd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 12,100 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $2,771,000 after buying an additional 8,171 shares during the period. World Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the third quarter valued at about $21,557,000. Pine Valley Investments Ltd Liability Co purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $201,000. Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $2,194,000. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $69,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

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.