Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Earns Buy Rating from Analysts at Guggenheim

Analysts at Guggenheim initiated coverage on shares of Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) in a report released on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage set a “buy” rating and a $208.00 price target on the health services provider’s stock. Guggenheim’s price objective indicates a potential upside of 21.44% from the company’s current price.

A number of other brokerages also recently issued reports on UHS. Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $271.00 to $249.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Stephens lifted their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, March 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $226.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $226.93.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 1.2 %

Shares of UHS stock traded down $2.01 on Wednesday, hitting $171.27. The stock had a trading volume of 109,212 shares, compared to its average volume of 741,983. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28. The business has a 50 day moving average of $180.74 and a 200 day moving average of $194.21. Universal Health Services has a 12-month low of $152.69 and a 12-month high of $243.25. The stock has a market cap of $11.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.21.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.21 by $0.71. The firm had revenue of $4.11 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.01 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. As a group, analysts expect that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total transaction of $179,160.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 7,916 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,418,230.56. The trade was a 11.22 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of UHS. R Squared Ltd purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Quent Capital LLC increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 118.3% in the fourth quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 179 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 97 shares during the period. Campbell Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter valued at about $46,000. Huntington National Bank boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 55.6% during the 4th quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 280 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $50,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the period. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $69,000. 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.