Universal Health Services’ (UHS) “Sector Perform” Rating Reiterated at Royal Bank Of Canada

by · The Cerbat Gem

Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed their sector perform rating on shares of Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS – Free Report) in a report released on Thursday,Benzinga reports. They currently have a $183.00 price objective on the health services provider’s stock.

Several other research analysts have also recently commented on UHS. Weiss Ratings raised Universal Health Services from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research report on Tuesday. UBS Group set a $290.00 price objective on Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $179.00 to $168.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, July 28th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $165.00 to $166.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $194.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, July 28th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $204.93.

Read Our Latest Report on Universal Health Services

Universal Health Services Stock Up 2.5%

Universal Health Services stock opened at $177.14 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. Universal Health Services has a 1-year low of $140.08 and a 1-year high of $246.32. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $157.95 and a 200 day simple moving average of $174.90. The company has a market cap of $10.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 1.05.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 28th. The health services provider reported $5.98 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.94 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $4.64 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.58 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 8.42% and a return on equity of 19.39%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $5.35 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services will post 23.08 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 1st. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is currently 3.26%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Norges Bank bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter worth $199,334,000. Pzena Investment Management LLC raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 31.5% in the fourth quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 2,112,604 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $460,590,000 after purchasing an additional 505,575 shares during the period. Nomura Holdings Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 100.6% during the 2nd quarter. Nomura Holdings Inc. now owns 2,560 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $464,000 after buying an additional 426,211 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 59.5% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 871,377 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $189,978,000 after buying an additional 325,162 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 12.1% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,781,262 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $318,812,000 after buying an additional 192,351 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Universal Health Services, Inc (NYSE: UHS) is one of the largest diversified health care management companies in the United States, offering a broad spectrum of services through its acute care hospital and behavioral health segments. The company operates general acute care hospitals, surgical hospitals and ambulatory centers, as well as inpatient and outpatient behavioral health facilities. Its network provides emergency and specialized medicine, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, advanced surgical care and rehabilitation, complemented by a comprehensive array of behavioral services including psychiatric treatment, addiction programs and developmental disabilities care.

In the acute care segment, UHS’s facilities deliver services ranging from emergency department treatment and intensive care to maternity care and outpatient surgery.

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