Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Coverage Initiated at Bank of America

Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday morning. The brokerage issued a neutral rating and a $223.00 target price on the health services provider’s stock.

Several other brokerages have also issued reports on UHS. TD Cowen lowered their price target on Universal Health Services from $283.00 to $275.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 28th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on Universal Health Services from $222.00 to $211.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 28th. Stephens reissued an “equal weight” rating and issued a $200.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Thursday, July 25th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $255.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $231.14.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 0.4 %

UHS opened at $207.50 on Wednesday. The business has a 50 day moving average of $224.42 and a 200-day moving average of $204.08. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.80, a P/E/G ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Universal Health Services has a 1-year low of $127.43 and a 1-year high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.75 by ($0.04). The company had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.90 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. Universal Health Services’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.55 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services will post 15.89 earnings per share for the current year.

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

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

In related news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $217.64, for a total value of $749,552.16. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,971 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $864,248.44. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of UHS. Financial Management Professionals Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the third quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Blue Trust Inc. increased its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 1,284.6% in the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 167 shares during the period. Innealta Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the second quarter worth $35,000. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the first quarter valued at $36,000. Finally, Huntington National Bank boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 414.3% in the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 145 shares during the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is 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.