Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) PT Raised to $255.00 at Wells Fargo & Company

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) had its price target lifted by Wells Fargo & Company from $200.00 to $255.00 in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the health services provider’s stock.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Barclays raised Universal Health Services from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $198.00 to $256.00 in a research report on Friday, July 26th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised Universal Health Services from an underweight rating to a neutral rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $162.00 to $219.00 in a research report on Friday, July 26th. Stephens reaffirmed an equal weight rating and set a $200.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Thursday, July 25th. 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. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $182.00 to $186.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, May 30th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $216.31.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 1.2 %

Shares of NYSE UHS opened at $213.21 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $14.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.07, a PEG ratio of 0.70 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a quick ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. Universal Health Services has a 52-week low of $119.90 and a 52-week high of $219.61. The business’s 50 day moving average is $189.22 and its two-hundred day moving average is $175.85.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The health services provider reported $4.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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 for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.87 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.53 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that Universal Health Services will post 15.96 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services announced that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase plan on Wednesday, July 24th that allows the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the health services provider to repurchase up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically a sign that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd will be paid a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 3rd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.38%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is presently 6.78%.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $210.85, for a total value of $3,192,479.85. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,253 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,107,595.05. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, Director Eileen C. Mcdonnell sold 2,535 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.55, for a total transaction of $531,209.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,413 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,343,844.15. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $210.85, for a total transaction of $3,192,479.85. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,253 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,107,595.05. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. raised its holdings in Universal Health Services by 32,501.2% during the fourth quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 570,847 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $87,020,000 after purchasing an additional 569,096 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter worth about $86,117,000. Point72 Asset Management L.P. raised its holdings in Universal Health Services by 12,924.9% during the fourth quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 503,935 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $76,820,000 after purchasing an additional 500,066 shares in the last quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter worth about $49,212,000. Finally, 8 Knots Management LLC purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter valued at about $40,010,000. 86.05% of the stock is 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.