Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Raised to Neutral at Cantor Fitzgerald

Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded shares of Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) from an underweight rating to a neutral rating in a research report released on Friday morning, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Cantor Fitzgerald currently has $219.00 target price on the health services provider’s stock, up from their previous target price of $162.00.

Several other equities analysts have also issued reports on the company. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on Universal Health Services from $183.00 to $189.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 7th. Robert W. Baird upgraded Universal Health Services from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and boosted their price target for the company from $198.00 to $236.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 26th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Universal Health Services from $195.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, March 28th. Baird R W upgraded Universal Health Services from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 26th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Universal Health Services from $182.00 to $186.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, May 30th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $209.00.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

UHS opened at $213.69 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $14.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.11, a PEG ratio of 0.89 and a beta of 1.28. Universal Health Services has a 1 year low of $119.90 and a 1 year high of $214.64. The company has a current ratio of 1.28, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $185.59 and a 200 day moving average price of $174.10.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The health services provider reported $4.31 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.37 by $0.94. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 6.22%. The company had revenue of $3.91 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.87 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.53 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Universal Health Services will post 16.03 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd will be paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.37%. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is presently 6.78%.

Universal Health Services announced that its board has authorized a share repurchase program on Wednesday, July 24th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the health services provider to buy up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are typically an indication that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the first quarter worth $32,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 1,284.6% during the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares during the period. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the first quarter worth $36,000. Mather Group LLC. acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the first quarter worth $36,000. Finally, Denali Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the first quarter worth $37,000. 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.