Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Short Interest Up 24.4% in November

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) saw a significant increase in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,530,000 shares, an increase of 24.4% from the October 31st total of 1,230,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 773,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.0 days. Approximately 2.8% of the shares of the company are sold short.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently commented on UHS. KeyCorp began coverage on Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 11th. They set a “sector weight” rating for the company. TD Cowen cut their price target on Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on Universal Health Services from $236.00 to $274.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 4th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $219.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 25th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $225.50.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UHS traded down $4.05 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $200.95. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 726,431 shares, compared to its average volume of 686,542. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.26 billion, a PE ratio of 13.48, a P/E/G ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.29. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $214.82 and a two-hundred day moving average of $207.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28. Universal Health Services has a 52 week low of $133.70 and a 52 week high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.75 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $3.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.90 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.55 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services will post 15.93 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.40%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is presently 5.32%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Van ECK Associates Corp grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 4.2% during the 2nd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 1,160 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $215,000 after buying an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. LRI Investments LLC lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 19.5% during the 2nd quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 386 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $71,000 after acquiring an additional 63 shares during the last quarter. Empirical Finance LLC lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 5,704 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $1,306,000 after acquiring an additional 64 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.0% during the 3rd quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,238 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $512,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quarry LP lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 14.4% during the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 516 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $118,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. 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.