Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Releases FY 2025 Earnings Guidance

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) issued an update on its FY 2025 earnings guidance on Wednesday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 18.450-19.950 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 18.160. The company issued revenue guidance of $17.0 billion-$17.4 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $16.7 billion.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 5.2 %

UHS stock traded down $9.90 on Wednesday, hitting $179.11. 1,149,515 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 557,380. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $184.35 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $205.64. Universal Health Services has a 12-month low of $152.68 and a 12-month high of $243.25. The stock has a market cap of $11.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.39.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.21 by $0.71. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Universal Health Services will post 15.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd will be given a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.45%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 5.32%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have commented on UHS. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 25th. TD Cowen lowered their target price 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. Bank of America started coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 target price for the company. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, November 9th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $226.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $226.14.

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total transaction of $308,516.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 5,879 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,123,770.85. This represents a 21.54 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 16.10% 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.