Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Receives Neutral Rating from JPMorgan Chase & Co.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated their neutral rating on shares of Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday morning, Marketbeat reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. currently has a $226.00 price target on the health services provider’s stock.

A number of other research firms have also commented on UHS. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $228.00 to $198.00 in a report on Monday. TD Cowen dropped their price objective on Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated a “neutral” rating and set a $219.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Friday, October 25th. Barclays upped their price target on Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, KeyCorp assumed coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Friday, October 11th. They set a “sector weight” rating on the stock. 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 company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $226.14.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 0.8 %

Shares of UHS opened at $182.60 on Tuesday. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $206.37 and its 200-day simple moving average is $208.50. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.05 billion, a PE ratio of 12.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.60 and a beta of 1.28. Universal Health Services has a 12-month low of $147.33 and a 12-month high of $243.25. 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 earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates 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 business had revenue of $3.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.90 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.55 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that Universal Health Services will post 15.88 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd were issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.44%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 5.32%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total transaction of $308,516.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 5,879 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,123,770.85. This trade represents a 21.54 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. Point72 Asset Management L.P. increased its stake in Universal Health Services by 362.3% in 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 buying an additional 252,846 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP increased its position 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 acquiring an additional 204,178 shares during the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp raised its holdings in Universal Health Services by 408.2% during the second quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 140,561 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $25,994,000 after acquiring an additional 112,902 shares in the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC boosted its position in 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 during the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC bought a new position in Universal Health Services in the second quarter valued at approximately $18,031,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

About Universal Health Services

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.