Barclays Cuts Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Price Target to $168.00

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) had its price objective reduced by Barclays from $179.00 to $168.00 in a research report released on Tuesday morning, MarketBeat.com reports. Barclays currently has an equal weight rating on the health services provider’s stock.

UHS has been the subject of several other reports. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $165.00 to $166.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. TD Cowen lowered their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $197.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, June 22nd. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Universal Health Services from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $216.00 to $190.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald decreased their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $229.00 to $194.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 29th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $205.40.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 2.8%

Shares of UHS opened at $163.53 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $9.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.66, a PEG ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 1.07. Universal Health Services has a 52 week low of $140.08 and a 52 week high of $246.32. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $150.50 and its 200-day moving average price is $178.20. The company has a quick ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, July 27th. The health services provider reported $5.98 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.94 by $0.04. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.39% and a net margin of 8.42%.The company had revenue of $4.64 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.58 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $5.35 earnings per share. Universal Health Services’s quarterly revenue was up 8.3% on a year-over-year basis. Universal Health Services has set its FY 2026 guidance at 22.280-23.650 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Universal Health Services will post 23.35 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 1st will be given a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 1st. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.5%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 3.33%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 2.7% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 2,665 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $501,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares during the period. United Services Automobile Association acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter worth about $235,000. Focus Partners Wealth raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 80.6% during the 1st quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 2,631 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $494,000 after purchasing an additional 1,174 shares during the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 95.0% during the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 583 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $106,000 after purchasing an additional 284 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Gamco Investors INC. ET AL purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the 2nd quarter valued at about $379,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

About Universal Health Services

Universal Health Services, Inc (NYSE: UHS) is one of the largest diversified health care management companies in the United States, offering a broad spectrum of services through its acute care hospital and behavioral health segments. The company operates general acute care hospitals, surgical hospitals and ambulatory centers, as well as inpatient and outpatient behavioral health facilities. Its network provides emergency and specialized medicine, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, advanced surgical care and rehabilitation, complemented by a comprehensive array of behavioral services including psychiatric treatment, addiction programs and developmental disabilities care.

In the acute care segment, UHS’s facilities deliver services ranging from emergency department treatment and intensive care to maternity care and outpatient surgery.