Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Rating Lowered to Neutral at The Goldman Sachs Group

The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report released on Monday, MarketBeat reports. The Goldman Sachs Group currently has $198.00 price target on the health services provider’s stock, down from their previous price target of $228.00.

A number of other equities analysts have also commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 25th. StockNews.com downgraded Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, November 9th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on Universal Health Services from $222.00 to $211.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 28th. Bank of America assumed coverage on Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 price objective for the company. Finally, TD Cowen reduced their target price on Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $223.29.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of UHS opened at $184.10 on Monday. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $206.97 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $208.55. Universal Health Services has a 12-month low of $147.33 and a 12-month high of $243.25. The stock has a market cap of $12.15 billion, a PE ratio of 12.24, a PEG ratio of 0.60 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.75 by ($0.04). Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The firm had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.90 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.55 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services will post 15.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.43%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 3rd. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is currently 5.32%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total transaction of $308,516.10. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 5,879 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,123,770.85. The trade was a 21.54 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Point72 Asset Management L.P. lifted its stake in Universal Health Services by 362.3% during the 2nd quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 322,626 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $59,663,000 after acquiring an additional 252,846 shares in the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 357.9% in the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 261,221 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $48,308,000 after purchasing an additional 204,178 shares during the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 408.2% in the second quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 140,561 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $25,994,000 after purchasing an additional 112,902 shares during the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 102.0% during the third quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 210,926 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $48,304,000 after purchasing an additional 106,517 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC purchased a new position in Universal Health Services during the second quarter worth about $18,031,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

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.