Zacks Research Issues Positive Outlook for UHS Earnings

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) – Investment analysts at Zacks Research increased their Q1 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Universal Health Services in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, March 12th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now expects that the health services provider will earn $4.22 per share for the quarter, up from their prior forecast of $3.67. The consensus estimate for Universal Health Services’ current full-year earnings is $15.92 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Universal Health Services’ Q2 2025 earnings at $4.62 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $5.29 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $18.53 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $5.40 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $20.05 EPS.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Stephens upped their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, February 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $226.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, March 10th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group cut Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $228.00 to $198.00 in a report on Monday, December 16th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $230.75.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 2.3 %

Shares of Universal Health Services stock opened at $167.83 on Monday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $182.83 and a 200-day simple moving average of $200.70. The firm has a market cap of $10.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.32. Universal Health Services has a fifty-two week low of $152.68 and a fifty-two week 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 Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.21 by $0.71. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The firm had revenue of $4.11 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.01 billion.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of UHS. QSM Asset Management Ltd bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter valued at about $7,045,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $8,495,000. Forum Financial Management LP lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 20.0% in the 4th quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 1,953 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $350,000 after purchasing an additional 326 shares during the last quarter. GF Fund Management CO. LTD. bought a new stake in Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter worth approximately $254,000. Finally, Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio acquired a new position in Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $5,709,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

In related news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total transaction of $179,160.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 7,916 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,418,230.56. This trade represents a 11.22 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 3rd will be issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.48%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 4.75%.

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.