Empowered Funds LLC Increases Stock Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

Posted by Francis Steltz on Jul 29th, 2026

Empowered Funds LLC grew its stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS – Free Report) by 7.1% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 128,682 shares of the health services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 8,533 shares during the quarter. Empowered Funds LLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $23,030,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Blair William & Co. IL raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 4.1% during the fourth quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 1,390 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $303,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares during the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its stake in Universal Health Services by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,794 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $367,000 after buying an additional 58 shares during the period. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC raised its position in Universal Health Services by 1.6% during the 4th quarter. Resonant Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,859 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $841,000 after buying an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. Triad Wealth Partners LLC raised its position in Universal Health Services by 3.4% during the 1st quarter. Triad Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,858 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $333,000 after buying an additional 61 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 20,595 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $4,490,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $179.00 to $168.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Guggenheim cut their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $211.00 to $195.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 20th. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. Robert W. Baird lowered their price objective on Universal Health Services from $241.00 to $204.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their target price on Universal Health Services from $261.00 to $230.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 29th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $213.00.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Universal Health Services

Key Headlines Impacting Universal Health Services

Here are the key news stories impacting Universal Health Services this week:

Positive Sentiment: Second-quarter results exceeded expectations. UHS reported adjusted earnings of $5.98 per share, ahead of the $5.94 consensus estimate, while revenue increased 8.3% year over year to $4.64 billion, surpassing the $4.58 billion forecast. Growth in acute-care and behavioral-health operations supported the performance. UHS Beats Q2 Earnings and Revenue Estimates Despite Cost Pressures
Positive Sentiment: Management highlighted outpatient expansion opportunities. UHS views its Talkspace relationship as an accelerant for outpatient behavioral-health growth, potentially broadening access to services and supporting a less hospital-dependent growth model. Why UHS sees Talkspace as an accelerant for outpatient growth
Positive Sentiment: Share repurchases remain a potential support. UHS forecast 2026 adjusted EBITDA less noncontrolling interests of $2.61 billion to $2.72 billion and said it expects to remain “highly active” in buybacks. UHS forecasts 2026 adjusted EBITDA and buybacks
Neutral Sentiment: Analyst views were mixed. Cantor Fitzgerald maintained a Neutral rating with a $194 price target, while Barclays retained Equal Weight but reduced its target to $168, indicating limited near-term conviction.
Negative Sentiment: Full-year earnings guidance was lowered. UHS now expects 2026 EPS of $22.28 to $23.65, below the $23.44 consensus midpoint expectation, citing uncertainty surrounding Medicaid supplemental-payment reimbursements. Higher operating costs also remain a concern. Revenue guidance of $18.5 billion to $18.8 billion was maintained broadly in line with expectations. Universal Health Services cuts 2026 forecast

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

NYSE UHS opened at $166.67 on Wednesday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $140.08 and a 1-year high of $246.32. The company has a market capitalization of $10.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.79, a PEG ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 1.07. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $150.40 and a 200 day moving average price of $178.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 1.01.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, July 27th. The health services provider reported $5.98 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.94 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $4.64 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.58 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.53% and a net margin of 8.42%.Universal Health Services’s quarterly revenue was up 8.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $5.35 earnings per share. Universal Health Services has set its FY 2026 guidance at 22.280-23.650 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 23.44 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared 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 of this dividend is Tuesday, September 1st. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is 3.33%.

Universal Health Services Company Profile

(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.