Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Cut to Underperform at Bank of America

Bank of America downgraded shares of Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) from a neutral rating to an underperform rating in a research report report published on Wednesday, MarketBeat reports. Bank of America currently has $185.00 price target on the health services provider’s stock, down from their previous price target of $215.00.

A number of other analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. Baird R W downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Guggenheim initiated coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $208.00 price objective on the stock. Barclays lifted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $249.00 to $257.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 29th. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, March 26th. They issued an “equal weight” rating and a $200.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Stephens upgraded shares of Universal Health Services to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, June 2nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $221.85.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 1.1%

UHS opened at $168.99 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.32. Universal Health Services has a fifty-two week low of $153.99 and a fifty-two week high of $243.25. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $182.99 and its 200 day moving average is $181.38. The stock has a market cap of $10.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $4.84 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.36 by $0.48. The business had revenue of $4.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.16 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 17.79% and a net margin of 7.44%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $3.70 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 16th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 2nd will be given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.47%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 2nd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 4.49%.

Insider Activity at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,097 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.48, for a total value of $210,053.56. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 7,884 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,509,628.32. This represents a 12.21% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 16.40% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter worth $30,000. Sentry Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter worth about $35,000. UMB Bank n.a. boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 49.3% during the first quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 203 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 89.7% during the first quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 258 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $48,000 after purchasing an additional 122 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Huntington National Bank boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 55.6% during the fourth quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 280 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $50,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

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.