Universal Health Services’ (UHS) Neutral Rating Reaffirmed at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS)‘s stock had its “neutral” rating reissued by investment analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday, MarketBeat.com reports. They currently have a $226.00 price target on the health services provider’s stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.‘s price objective would suggest a potential upside of 27.30% from the company’s previous close.

Several other brokerages have also recently issued reports on UHS. TD Cowen reduced their target price on Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Barclays lifted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. StockNews.com cut Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, November 9th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 25th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $219.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Universal Health Services currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $226.14.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 2.8 %

UHS stock opened at $177.53 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28. Universal Health Services has a 1-year low of $148.00 and a 1-year high of $243.25. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $205.66 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $208.28. The company has a market capitalization of $11.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.80, a PEG ratio of 0.60 and a beta of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.75 by ($0.04). The company had revenue of $3.96 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.90 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. Universal Health Services’s revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.55 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services will post 15.88 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In related news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total transaction of $308,516.10. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 5,879 shares in the company, valued at $1,123,770.85. This trade represents a 21.54 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of UHS. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Universal Health Services in the third quarter worth approximately $202,000. 1ST Source Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 3rd quarter worth $204,000. DGS Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 11.4% during the 3rd quarter. DGS Capital Management LLC now owns 7,984 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $1,829,000 after buying an additional 817 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 163.9% during the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 133,499 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $29,430,000 after buying an additional 82,913 shares during the period. Finally, Tidal Investments LLC increased its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 208.0% during the third quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 12,100 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $2,771,000 after buying an additional 8,171 shares during the period. 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.