KeyCorp Comments on Universal Health Services, Inc.’s FY2024 Earnings (NYSE:UHS)

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) – Analysts at KeyCorp issued their FY2024 earnings estimates for shares of Universal Health Services in a report issued on Thursday, October 10th. KeyCorp analyst M. Gillmor expects that the health services provider will post earnings per share of $15.60 for the year. KeyCorp currently has a “Sector Weight” rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Universal Health Services’ current full-year earnings is $15.91 per share. KeyCorp also issued estimates for Universal Health Services’ FY2025 earnings at $17.36 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $19.48 EPS.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The health services provider reported $4.31 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.37 by $0.94. The firm had revenue of $3.91 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.87 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 6.22%. Universal Health Services’s quarterly revenue was up 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.53 earnings per share.

A number of other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. Baird R W raised Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, June 26th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $255.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $247.00 to $267.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. Barclays raised shares of Universal Health Services from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $198.00 to $256.00 in a research report on Friday, July 26th. Finally, Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $236.00 to $274.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $224.92.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 2.2 %

Shares of UHS opened at $225.34 on Monday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $227.95 and a 200-day simple moving average of $198.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a current ratio of 1.28. The firm has a market capitalization of $15.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.10, a P/E/G ratio of 0.70 and a beta of 1.27. Universal Health Services has a 52 week low of $119.90 and a 52 week high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase plan 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 reacquire up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are often a sign that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd were issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.36%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 3rd. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is 6.78%.

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Eileen C. Mcdonnell sold 2,535 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.55, for a total value of $531,209.25. Following the transaction, the director now owns 6,413 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,343,844.15. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Universal Health Services news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $217.64, for a total transaction of $749,552.16. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 3,971 shares in the company, valued at approximately $864,248.44. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Eileen C. Mcdonnell sold 2,535 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.55, for a total value of $531,209.25. Following the sale, the director now owns 6,413 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,343,844.15. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 21,970 shares of company stock valued at $4,653,535 in the last quarter. Insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of UHS. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter valued at $32,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its holdings 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 worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 167 shares during the last quarter. Innealta Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the second quarter worth approximately $35,000. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the first quarter worth $36,000. Finally, Mather Group LLC. bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the first quarter valued at approximately $36,000. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Universal Health Services

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.