Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Given Underweight Rating at Cantor Fitzgerald

Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated their underweight rating on shares of Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) in a report published on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $162.00 target price on the health services provider’s stock.

Several other research firms have also recently commented on UHS. Robert W. Baird raised Universal Health Services from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and upped their price target for the company from $198.00 to $236.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 26th. Baird R W raised Universal Health Services from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, June 26th. Mizuho increased their target price on Universal Health Services from $175.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, March 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their target price on Universal Health Services from $208.00 to $203.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 12th. Finally, TD Cowen increased their target price on Universal Health Services from $181.00 to $183.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, April 30th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $193.57.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UHS opened at $184.72 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $12.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.91 and a beta of 1.28. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $180.83 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $169.93. Universal Health Services has a one year low of $119.90 and a one year high of $194.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 1.38 and a quick ratio of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 24th. The health services provider reported $3.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.14 by $0.56. The company had revenue of $3.84 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.78 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 13.34% and a net margin of 5.57%. The firm’s revenue was up 10.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.34 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services will post 13.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 3rd were given a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.43%. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is 6.78%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of UHS. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter worth $32,000. Mather Group LLC. bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter worth $36,000. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter worth $36,000. Denali Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter worth $37,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth $42,000. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.