Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Downgraded by StockNews.com

StockNews.com lowered shares of Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday.

Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $208.00 to $203.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 12th. UBS Group upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the company from $189.00 to $226.00 in a research note on Monday, May 20th. Stephens restated an equal weight rating and issued a $185.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Thursday, April 25th. Robert W. Baird upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and increased their target price for the stock from $198.00 to $236.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 26th. Finally, Baird R W upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 26th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $194.21.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

NYSE:UHS opened at $183.97 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.31 billion, a PE ratio of 15.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 1.28. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $182.84 and its 200 day moving average price is $171.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 1.38 and a quick ratio of 1.28. Universal Health Services has a 12 month low of $119.90 and a 12 month high of $194.02.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 24th. The health services provider reported $3.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.14 by $0.56. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 5.57% and a return on equity of 13.34%. The company had revenue of $3.84 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.78 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.34 earnings per share. Universal Health Services’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services will post 13.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 17th. Investors of record on Monday, June 3rd were given a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.43%. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is currently 6.78%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at about $32,000. Mather Group LLC. purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at about $36,000. Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at about $36,000. Denali Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at about $37,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter valued at about $42,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.