Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Price Target Increased to $274.00 by Analysts at Robert W. Baird

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) had its price target increased by Robert W. Baird from $236.00 to $274.00 in a research report released on Wednesday morning, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an outperform rating on the health services provider’s stock.

A number of other 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 research report on Wednesday, June 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $229.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 30th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $219.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Monday, August 19th. TD Cowen increased their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $183.00 to $220.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Friday, July 26th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $183.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Tuesday, May 7th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $222.38.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

NYSE:UHS opened at $229.16 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.28, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $209.38 and a 200 day simple moving average of $187.61. Universal Health Services has a 1-year low of $119.90 and a 1-year high of $241.95. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.29 billion, a PE ratio of 19.42, a P/E/G ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 24th. The health services provider reported $4.31 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.37 by $0.94. The company had revenue of $3.91 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.87 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.22% and a return on equity of 14.91%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.53 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Universal Health Services will post 15.91 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 3rd will be paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.35%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 6.78%.

Universal Health Services declared that its board has approved a share buyback 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 reacquire up to 8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Eileen C. Mcdonnell sold 2,535 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $209.55, for a total transaction of $531,209.25. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 6,413 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,343,844.15. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, Director Eileen C. Mcdonnell sold 2,535 shares of the company’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 transaction of $531,209.25. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 6,413 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,343,844.15. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Nina Chen-Langenmayr sold 850 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $212.11, for a total value of $180,293.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 1,985 shares in the company, valued at approximately $421,038.35. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 21,970 shares of company stock valued at $4,653,535 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. bought a new position in Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Blue Trust Inc. increased 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 buying an additional 167 shares in the last quarter. Innealta Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 2nd quarter valued at $35,000. Mather Group LLC. bought a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter worth $36,000. Finally, Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new position in Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter worth about $36,000. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.