Analysts Set Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Price Target at $182.79

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) has earned a consensus rating of “Hold” from the thirteen brokerages that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, five have given a hold recommendation and seven have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $182.79.

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Citigroup lifted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $170.00 to $193.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an “underweight” rating and issued a $156.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, April 10th. UBS Group increased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $152.00 to $177.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 29th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $170.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, March 4th. Finally, Stephens restated an “equal weight” rating and issued a $185.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Thursday, April 25th.

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

In related news, CFO Steve Filton sold 35,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $176.82, for a total value of $6,188,700.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 68,785 shares in the company, valued at $12,162,563.70. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in Universal Health Services by 3.5% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,090,010 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $137,047,000 after buying an additional 37,243 shares during the period. UBS Group AG increased its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 51.2% in the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 62,949 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $7,915,000 after acquiring an additional 21,325 shares in the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 4,622.3% in the 3rd quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 16,906 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $2,125,000 after acquiring an additional 16,548 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 16.7% in the 4th quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 53,239 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $8,116,000 after acquiring an additional 7,616 shares during the period. Finally, Todd Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 17.9% during the 4th quarter. Todd Asset Management LLC now owns 159,605 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $24,330,000 after acquiring an additional 24,279 shares in the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 0.9 %

NYSE:UHS opened at $169.15 on Friday. Universal Health Services has a 52-week low of $119.90 and a 52-week high of $183.61. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $171.24 and a 200-day simple moving average of $155.22. The company has a market capitalization of $11.37 billion, a PE ratio of 14.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.84 and a beta of 1.26.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, April 24th. The health services provider reported $3.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.14 by $0.56. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 5.57% and a return on equity of 13.34%. The company had revenue of $3.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.78 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.34 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 10.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that Universal Health Services will post 13.51 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Company Profile

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.