Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Sets New 12-Month Low – Should You Sell?

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)’s stock price reached a new 52-week low on Thursday . The company traded as low as $150.65 and last traded at $152.1290, with a volume of 45015 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $154.29.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently commented on UHS shares. TD Cowen decreased their price target on Universal Health Services from $245.00 to $230.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 29th. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, March 2nd. Barclays decreased their target price on Universal Health Services from $268.00 to $238.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 28th. Guggenheim lowered their target price on Universal Health Services from $238.00 to $211.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. Finally, Stephens dropped their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $235.00 to $205.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Universal Health Services presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $221.56.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 1.4%

The company has a market capitalization of $9.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.34, a PEG ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a current ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $175.68 and a 200 day moving average price of $203.13.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $5.62 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.41 by $0.21. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.57% and a net margin of 8.56%.The business had revenue of $4.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.39 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $4.84 EPS. Universal Health Services’s quarterly revenue was up 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 23.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 8th will be issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 8th. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is 3.33%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. Pzena Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 31.5% during the 4th quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 2,112,604 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $460,590,000 after acquiring an additional 505,575 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 12.1% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,781,262 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $318,812,000 after acquiring an additional 192,351 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 1.7% during the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,226,577 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $219,520,000 after purchasing an additional 20,577 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter worth $199,334,000. Finally, Morgan Stanley grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 59.5% in the fourth quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 871,377 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $189,978,000 after purchasing an additional 325,162 shares during the last quarter. 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.