Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Cut to “Buy” at Wall Street Zen

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) was downgraded by Wall Street Zen from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note issued on Sunday.

Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. UBS Group set a $227.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Stephens raised shares of Universal Health Services to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Bank of America lowered shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating and cut their price target for the stock from $215.00 to $185.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $215.00 to $195.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Monday, August 4th. Finally, Robert W. Baird reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $224.00 target price (down previously from $274.00) on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $216.54.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UHS opened at $171.77 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $11.16 billion, a PE ratio of 9.05, a PEG ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.24. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $174.33 and a 200 day moving average of $179.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a current ratio of 1.29. Universal Health Services has a one year low of $152.33 and a one year high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, July 28th. The health services provider reported $5.35 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.85 by $0.50. The company had revenue of $4.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.24 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 7.66% and a return on equity of 18.22%. The firm’s revenue was up 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $4.31 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,097 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.48, for a total transaction of $210,053.56. Following the transaction, the director owned 7,884 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,509,628.32. The trade was a 12.21% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 16.40% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of UHS. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 2nd quarter valued at about $87,373,000. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 57.8% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 931,355 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $173,381,000 after buying an additional 340,966 shares during the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 329.4% in the first quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 404,806 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $76,081,000 after buying an additional 310,531 shares during the last quarter. Freestone Grove Partners LP acquired a new position in Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter valued at about $41,155,000. Finally, Bridgewater Associates LP lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 119.1% in the fourth quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP now owns 322,163 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $57,802,000 after buying an additional 175,131 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.