Barclays Lowers Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Price Target to $249.00

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) had its price target reduced by Barclays from $271.00 to $249.00 in a report published on Thursday,Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the health services provider’s stock.

Other analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Bank of America started coverage on Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 price target on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated a “neutral” rating and set a $226.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their price objective for the company from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $225.29.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of Universal Health Services stock opened at $185.26 on Thursday. Universal Health Services has a 12 month low of $152.68 and a 12 month high of $243.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.32, a P/E/G ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $184.57 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $205.32.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.21 by $0.71. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The company had revenue of $4.11 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.01 billion. On average, equities analysts forecast that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd will be paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.43%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is presently 5.32%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In related news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total value of $308,516.10. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 5,879 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,123,770.85. The trade was a 21.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Forum Financial Management LP lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 20.0% in the 4th quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 1,953 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $350,000 after purchasing an additional 326 shares during the period. GF Fund Management CO. LTD. purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $254,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio bought a new position in Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter worth approximately $5,709,000. Neo Ivy Capital Management purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth $359,000. Finally, Vise Technologies Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth $216,000. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.