Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Upgraded by Wall Street Zen to “Buy” Rating

Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report released on Sunday.

UHS has been the subject of several other research reports. UBS Group restated a “buy” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Thursday, January 15th. TD Cowen reduced their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $251.00 to $245.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $235.00 to $212.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 2nd. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reduced their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $250.00 to $229.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 27th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $232.21.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

UHS stock opened at $180.95 on Friday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $201.62 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $211.61. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.05 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 $246.32.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 25th. The health services provider reported $5.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $5.92 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $4.49 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.50 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.65% and a net margin of 8.57%.Universal Health Services’s revenue was up 9.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $4.92 EPS. Universal Health Services has set its FY 2026 guidance at 22.640-24.520 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 2nd were given a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 2nd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.4%. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is presently 3.46%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Elyxium Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. grew its position in Universal Health Services by 320.0% during the 3rd quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 126 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares during the last quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Root Financial Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Finally, Founders Capital Management purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Company Profile

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.