Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Shares Gap Down – Here’s Why

Posted by Brenda Bartman on Jul 16th, 2026

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS – Get Free Report) shares gapped down before the market opened on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $152.77, but opened at $145.00. Universal Health Services shares last traded at $145.3870, with a volume of 208,091 shares.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UHS has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Universal Health Services from $165.00 to $166.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday. Robert W. Baird reduced their price objective on Universal Health Services from $241.00 to $204.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $233.00 to $212.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their target price on shares of 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. Finally, TD Cowen cut their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $197.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, June 22nd. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $214.80.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Universal Health Services

Universal Health Services Price Performance

The company has a 50-day moving average of $153.11 and a 200-day moving average of $183.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a current ratio of 1.08. The stock has a market cap of $8.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.18, a PEG ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 1.07.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $5.62 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.41 by $0.21. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.57% and a net margin of 8.56%.The company had revenue of $4.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.39 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $4.84 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 23.44 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 1st will be issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 1st. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.5%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 3.33%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 2.7% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 2,665 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $501,000 after acquiring an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. United Services Automobile Association acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at about $235,000. Focus Partners Wealth boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 80.6% in the 1st quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 2,631 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $494,000 after purchasing an additional 1,174 shares in the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 95.0% in the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 583 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $106,000 after purchasing an additional 284 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Gamco Investors INC. ET AL acquired a new position in Universal Health Services during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $379,000. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Universal Health Services

(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.