Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Stock Price Down 2.9% – Should You Sell?

Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) traded down 2.9% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $174.10 and last traded at $174.37. Approximately 25,383 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 84% from the average session volume of 156,079 shares. The stock had previously closed at $179.67.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have weighed in on UHS shares. StockNews.com cut shares of Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, November 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 25th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $219.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $226.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday, December 17th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $226.14.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 0.4 %

The stock has a market cap of $11.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.90, a P/E/G ratio of 0.60 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $195.09 and its 200 day moving average is $207.54.

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

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd were issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.45%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 3rd. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is 5.32%.

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total transaction of $308,516.10. Following the transaction, the director now owns 5,879 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,123,770.85. This trade represents a 21.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 16.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Point72 Asset Management L.P. raised its holdings in Universal Health Services by 362.3% during the second quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 322,626 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $59,663,000 after acquiring an additional 252,846 shares in the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP increased its position in Universal Health Services by 357.9% during the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 261,221 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $48,308,000 after purchasing an additional 204,178 shares in the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 408.2% during the second quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 140,561 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $25,994,000 after acquiring an additional 112,902 shares during the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 102.0% in the third quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 210,926 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $48,304,000 after acquiring an additional 106,517 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 2nd quarter worth about $18,031,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Company Profile

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.