Equities Analysts Set Expectations for UHS FY2025 Earnings

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) – Investment analysts at Zacks Research lifted their FY2025 earnings estimates for Universal Health Services in a report released on Monday, November 18th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now expects that the health services provider will post earnings per share of $15.75 for the year, up from their previous forecast of $15.72. The consensus estimate for Universal Health Services’ current full-year earnings is $15.93 per share.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.75 by ($0.04). Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The firm had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.90 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.55 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year.

Several other research firms have also recently commented on UHS. UBS Group raised their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $247.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 14th. StockNews.com cut shares of Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, November 9th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. TD Cowen reduced their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $283.00 to $275.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 28th. Finally, Stephens reiterated an “equal weight” rating and issued a $200.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Thursday, July 25th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $231.14.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

UHS stock opened at $197.59 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.39. The stock has a market cap of $13.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.14, a P/E/G ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 1.29. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $218.71 and a 200 day simple moving average of $205.89. Universal Health Services has a 52 week low of $133.70 and a 52 week high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.40%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is 5.32%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of UHS. Financial Management Professionals Inc. bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the third quarter worth $32,000. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 1,284.6% in the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares in the last quarter. Innealta Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 2nd quarter valued at $35,000. True Wealth Design LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 3rd quarter valued at $39,000. Finally, Huntington National Bank boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 414.3% in the 3rd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares in the last quarter. 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.