Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Short Interest Up 24.4% in November

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) saw a large increase in short interest in November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,530,000 shares, an increase of 24.4% from the October 31st total of 1,230,000 shares. Approximately 2.8% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 773,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.0 days.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have commented on the company. Bank of America assumed coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 price target on the stock. Barclays lifted their price target 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. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $219.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $236.00 to $274.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 25th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Universal Health Services has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $225.50.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 2.0 %

NYSE:UHS traded down $4.05 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $200.95. 726,431 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 686,542. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $214.82 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $207.47. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.48, a P/E/G ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.29. Universal Health Services has a 1 year low of $133.70 and a 1 year high of $243.25. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share (EPS) 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 analysts’ expectations of $3.90 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.55 EPS. Analysts predict that Universal Health Services will post 15.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

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

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Financial Management Professionals Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the third quarter worth $32,000. Blue Trust Inc. raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 1,284.6% in the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares during the last quarter. Innealta Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the second quarter worth $35,000. True Wealth Design LLC purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the third quarter worth $39,000. Finally, Huntington National Bank raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 414.3% in the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares during 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.