Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Price Target Increased to $189.00 by Analysts at Royal Bank of Canada

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) had its price target boosted by Royal Bank of Canada from $183.00 to $189.00 in a research report released on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a sector perform rating on the health services provider’s stock.

A number of other research analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an underweight rating and set a $156.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, April 10th. Stephens restated an equal weight rating and issued a $185.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Thursday, April 25th. UBS Group upped their price target on Universal Health Services from $152.00 to $177.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, February 29th. TD Cowen raised their price objective on Universal Health Services from $181.00 to $183.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 30th. Finally, Citigroup upped their target price on Universal Health Services from $170.00 to $193.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Universal Health Services presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $183.20.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of UHS opened at $169.50 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.38, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $171.41 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $155.83. Universal Health Services has a 12 month low of $119.90 and a 12 month high of $183.61. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.84 and a beta of 1.26.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, April 24th. The health services provider reported $3.70 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.14 by $0.56. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 13.34% and a net margin of 5.57%. The business had revenue of $3.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.78 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.34 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 10.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that Universal Health Services will post 13.51 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other news, CFO Steve Filton sold 35,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 68,785 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $12,162,563.70. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Invesco Ltd. boosted its stake in Universal Health Services by 4.1% in the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 3,398,974 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $427,353,000 after acquiring an additional 134,122 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 5.3% during the fourth quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 2,071,022 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $315,707,000 after purchasing an additional 103,802 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. increased its position in Universal Health Services by 12.9% in the third quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,707,708 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $214,710,000 after buying an additional 195,650 shares during the last quarter. Nuance Investments LLC raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 0.4% in the third quarter. Nuance Investments LLC now owns 1,463,921 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $184,059,000 after buying an additional 6,400 shares during the period. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,090,010 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $137,047,000 after buying an additional 37,243 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors 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.