Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Announces Quarterly Earnings Results

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday. The health services provider reported $3.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.14 by $0.56, Briefing.com reports. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 5.57% and a return on equity of 13.34%. The firm had revenue of $3.84 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.78 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.34 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 10.8% compared to the same quarter last year.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 0.6 %

Shares of UHS stock opened at $166.06 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $11.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.07, a PEG ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 1.38 and a quick ratio of 1.29. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $170.63 and its 200-day moving average price is $153.34. Universal Health Services has a one year low of $119.90 and a one year high of $183.61.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CFO Steve Filton sold 35,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $176.82, for a total value of $6,188,700.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 68,785 shares in the company, valued at $12,162,563.70. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. National Bank of Canada FI increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 14.2% in the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 13,721 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $1,732,000 after acquiring an additional 1,711 shares during the last quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 2.1% in the third quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 32,828 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $4,072,000 after purchasing an additional 689 shares during the last quarter. Royal Fund Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 4.3% in the third quarter. Royal Fund Management LLC now owns 4,783 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $586,000 after buying an additional 195 shares in the last quarter. Czech National Bank boosted its stake in Universal Health Services by 45.8% during the third quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 10,861 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $1,366,000 after buying an additional 3,411 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Asset Management One Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 10.8% during the 3rd quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 28,456 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $3,578,000 after buying an additional 2,770 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on UHS shares. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $170.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, March 4th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $170.00 to $193.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 29th. Mizuho increased their target price on Universal Health Services from $175.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 6th. Barclays boosted their price target on Universal Health Services from $181.00 to $189.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $208.00 to $203.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Universal Health Services currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $180.60.

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.