Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Raised to Overweight at Cantor Fitzgerald

Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded shares of Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a research note released on Monday, Marketbeat.com reports.

A number of other analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $222.00 to $211.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 28th. TD Cowen dropped their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, November 26th. Finally, KeyCorp assumed coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Friday, October 11th. They set a “sector weight” rating on the stock. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $226.14.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 1.2 %

UHS stock opened at $190.89 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $12.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.69, a PEG ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $187.61 and a 200-day simple moving average of $208.03. Universal Health Services has a 52 week low of $152.68 and a 52 week high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 3rd were paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is 5.32%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total value 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 represents a 21.54 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. R Squared Ltd purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Financial Management Professionals Inc. purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Quent Capital LLC lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 118.3% in the 4th quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 179 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $39,000. Finally, Huntington National Bank lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 414.3% in the 3rd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 145 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other 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.