Brokerages Set Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Price Target at $233.20

Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) have received a consensus recommendation of “Hold” from the seventeen ratings firms that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, eight have issued a hold recommendation, seven have assigned a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $233.20.

Several analysts have recently issued reports on UHS shares. Zacks Research upgraded Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Morgan Stanley set a $233.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $250.00 to $263.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $219.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Guggenheim boosted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $227.00 to $253.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 29th.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 1.2%

UHS opened at $229.07 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $14.58 billion, a PE ratio of 10.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.33. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $202.22 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $187.05. The company has a quick ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. Universal Health Services has a 52 week low of $152.33 and a 52 week high of $229.76.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The health services provider reported $5.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.66 by $1.03. The firm had revenue of $4.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.32 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.47% and a net margin of 8.09%.The business’s revenue was up 13.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $3.71 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Elliot J. Md Mba Sussman sold 965 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $225.70, for a total value of $217,800.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 6,113 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,379,704.10. This trade represents a 13.63% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 16.40% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Pzena Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 310.2% in the third quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 1,607,029 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $328,541,000 after buying an additional 1,215,286 shares during the period. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al bought a new position in Universal Health Services in the 2nd quarter valued at $87,373,000. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services in the second quarter worth $83,333,000. Nomura Holdings Inc. lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 100.6% during the second quarter. Nomura Holdings Inc. now owns 2,560 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $464,000 after purchasing an additional 426,211 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 57.8% during the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 931,355 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $173,381,000 after purchasing an additional 340,966 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

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.