Barclays Lowers Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Price Target to $249.00

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) had its price target dropped by investment analysts at Barclays from $271.00 to $249.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an “overweight” rating on the health services provider’s stock. Barclays‘s target price would suggest a potential upside of 42.23% from the stock’s previous close.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Bank of America started coverage on Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 price target for the company. StockNews.com cut Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, November 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their price target for the company from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $226.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday, December 17th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $228.77.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of Universal Health Services stock opened at $175.07 on Thursday. Universal Health Services has a 52 week low of $152.68 and a 52 week high of $243.25. The company has a market capitalization of $11.55 billion, a PE ratio of 11.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.30. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $184.47 and its two-hundred day moving average is $205.02. 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 posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.21 by $0.71. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The company had revenue of $4.11 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.01 billion. As a group, analysts expect that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total transaction of $308,516.10. Following the sale, the director now owns 5,879 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,123,770.85. The trade was a 21.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. R Squared Ltd acquired a new position in Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Quent Capital LLC increased its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 118.3% in the 4th quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 179 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 97 shares during the period. True Wealth Design LLC purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the 3rd quarter worth $39,000. Huntington National Bank raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 414.3% in the 3rd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $41,000 after acquiring an additional 145 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Campbell Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth about $46,000. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.