Universal Health Services, Inc.
- Open
- 168.93
- Day high
- 171.41
- Day low
- 166.95
- Prev close
- 167.49
- Volume
- 73K
- Mkt cap
- $10.0B
- P/E (TTM)
- 6.9
- EPS (TTM)
- $24.66
- P/B
- 1.3
- P/S
- 0.6
- Yield
- 0.35%
- Per share
- $0.60
Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) is a Healthcare company listed on NYSE. The stock is down 7% over the past year. Drillr has 1 published research article covering UHS.
Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) financials & analyst ratings
Fundamentals (TTM)
Analyst consensus · 9 analysts
Source: exchange market data + company filings. Figures are trailing-twelve-month or as most recently reported. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
UHS earnings date, history & EPS estimates
| Report date | EPS est | EPS actual | Surprise | Revenue | Rev. surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 28, 2026 | $5.94 | $5.98 | +0.7% | $4.6B | +1.3% |
| May 7, 2026 | $5.29 | $5.62 | +6.2% | $4.5B | +2.5% |
| Feb 26, 2026 | $5.92 | $5.88 | -0.7% | $4.5B | -0.5% |
| Feb 26, 2025 | $4.21 | $4.92 | +16.9% | $4.1B | +2.7% |
| Oct 24, 2024 | $3.65 | $3.71 | +1.6% | $4.0B | -1.2% |
| Jul 24, 2024 | $3.28 | $4.31 | +31.4% | $3.9B | +1.1% |
| Feb 27, 2024 | $2.88 | $3.13 | +8.7% | $3.7B | +1.1% |
| Oct 25, 2023 | $2.36 | $2.55 | +8.1% | $3.6B | -2.8% |
| Jul 25, 2023 | $2.43 | $2.53 | +4.1% | $3.5B | +0.5% |
| Feb 27, 2023 | $2.96 | $3.02 | +2.0% | $3.4B | +1.5% |
| Oct 25, 2022 | $2.43 | $2.54 | +4.5% | $3.3B | +1.6% |
| Jul 25, 2022 | $2.35 | $2.20 | -6.4% | $3.3B | +1.5% |
UHS insider trading activity (SEC Form 4)
| Date | Insider | Type | Shares | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2026 | SUSSMAN ELLIOT J MD MBAdirector | Grant | 1,217 | — |
| May 21, 2026 | Nimetz Warren J.director | Grant | 1,217 | — |
| May 21, 2026 | McDonnell Eileen C.director | Grant | 1,217 | — |
| May 21, 2026 | Chen-Langenmayr Ninadirector | Grant | 1,217 | — |
| May 21, 2026 | Singer Maria Rudermandirector | Grant | 1,217 | — |
| Mar 30, 2026 | Miller Marc Ddirector, officer: President and CEO | Grant | 29,715 | — |
| Mar 30, 2026 | FILTON STEVEofficer: Executive Vice President & CFO | Grant | 6,850 | — |
| Mar 30, 2026 | MILLER ALAN Bdirector, 10 percent owner, officer: Executive Chairman | Grant | 14,153 | — |
| Mar 30, 2026 | Sim Edward Hofficer: Executive Vice President | Grant | 6,404 | — |
| Mar 30, 2026 | Peterson Matthew Jayofficer: Executive Vice President, UHS | Grant | 5,627 | — |
| Mar 23, 2026 | FILTON STEVEofficer: Executive Vice President & CFO | Tax | 731 | $189.58 |
| Mar 23, 2026 | MILLER ALAN Bdirector, 10 percent owner, officer: Executive Chairman | Tax | 1,177 | $185.82 |
| Mar 23, 2026 | Peterson Matthew Jayofficer: Executive Vice President, UHS | Tax | 608 | $189.58 |
| Mar 23, 2026 | FILTON STEVEofficer: Executive Vice President & CFO | Tax | 616 | $185.82 |
| Mar 23, 2026 | Peterson Matthew Jayofficer: Executive Vice President, UHS | Tax | 512 | $185.82 |
Source: UHS SEC Form 4 filings, latest May 21, 2026. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
See the full UHS insider & 13F page →Universal Health Services, Inc. company profile
Overview
Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) is one of the largest hospital operators in the United States, founded in 1978 and headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. The company went public in 1981 and has grown through acquisitions and organic expansion to become a major player in the healthcare services industry. UHS operates a diversified portfolio of healthcare facilities across two primary segments: acute care hospitals and behavioral health facilities, serving patients across 39 states, Washington D.C., the United Kingdom, and Puerto Rico.
Business
Universal Health Services operates in the healthcare services industry, specifically focusing on hospital and behavioral health facility management. The company's business is divided into two main segments that together generate its revenue streams. Acute Care Hospital Services represents the larger portion of UHS's operations, operating general acute care hospitals that provide a comprehensive range of medical services. These facilities offer general and specialty surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics, emergency room care, radiology, oncology, diagnostic and coronary care, pediatric services, and pharmacy services. Acute care hospitals treat patients with serious medical conditions requiring immediate attention, ranging from emergency cases to planned surgical procedures. This segment generates approximately 60-65% of total company revenues based on recent financial performance. Behavioral Health Care Services operates psychiatric hospitals and residential treatment facilities that provide mental health and substance abuse treatment services. These facilities serve patients requiring inpatient psychiatric care, residential treatment for addiction, and various outpatient behavioral health services. The behavioral health segment has shown consistent growth and represents approximately 35-40% of total revenues. This segment benefits from increasing recognition of mental health needs and growing demand for addiction treatment services. The company also provides ancillary services including commercial health insurance through its subsidiary and various management services such as central purchasing, information systems, facilities planning, physician recruitment, and administrative support. As of recent reports, UHS owns and operates 363 inpatient facilities and 40 outpatient facilities, making it one of the largest for-profit hospital operators in the United States.
Revenue model
UHS generates revenue primarily through patient service fees paid by various payers including government programs (Medicare and Medicaid), commercial insurance companies, and self-paying patients. The company's business model relies on fee-for-service reimbursement where hospitals are paid based on the services provided to patients. Revenue Sources and Payer Mix: The acute care segment receives payments from a diverse payer mix, with commercial insurance typically providing the highest reimbursement rates, followed by Medicare, and then Medicaid. Medicaid supplemental payment programs have become increasingly important, with UHS receiving hundreds of millions annually from various state programs designed to offset historically inadequate Medicaid base rates. The behavioral health segment also follows a similar payer structure but has seen improved Medicaid reimbursement rates in some states. Factors Affecting Profitability: Several key factors influence UHS's margins and profitability. Labor costs represent the largest expense category, with nursing shortages and premium pay for temporary staff significantly impacting margins during recent years. The company has worked to reduce premium pay from $153 million per quarter in early 2022 to approximately $60 million by late 2024. Payer mix significantly affects profitability, as commercial insurance rates substantially exceed government program rates. Patient acuity levels also impact revenue per case, with higher-acuity patients generating higher reimbursement. External Pressures: Managed care companies have become increasingly aggressive in utilization management and prior authorization requirements, affecting both admission volumes and length of stay. Regulatory changes, particularly around Medicare's Two Midnight Rule and various state Medicaid policies, can significantly impact reimbursement. Economic conditions affect patient volumes, as elective procedures may be delayed during economic uncertainty. The company also faces ongoing pressure from physician recruitment costs and the need to maintain competitive compensation packages in tight labor markets.
Competitive moat
UHS operates in a healthcare market with several structural advantages, though its competitive moat is moderate rather than exceptionally strong. The company benefits from geographic market positions where its hospitals often serve as essential community healthcare providers, particularly in smaller markets where barriers to entry are high due to certificate-of-need requirements and substantial capital investment needs. Regulatory Barriers provide some protection, as new hospital construction typically requires state approval through certificate-of-need processes, limiting new competition. The company's scale advantages in purchasing, management systems, and operational expertise create efficiencies that smaller competitors cannot easily replicate. In behavioral health specifically, UHS benefits from specialized expertise and infrastructure that requires significant investment and regulatory compliance. However, the company's moat faces several challenges. Reimbursement pressure from government payers and managed care organizations continues to intensify, with payers becoming more aggressive in utilization management and prior authorization requirements. The company lacks significant pricing power, as reimbursement rates are largely determined by external payers rather than market dynamics. Competition comes not only from other hospital systems but also from outpatient surgery centers, urgent care facilities, and alternative care delivery models that can provide some services at lower costs. Potential Disruption could arise from continued shift toward outpatient care, telemedicine adoption, and value-based care models that emphasize prevention over treatment. Large health systems with stronger balance sheets and academic medical center affiliations may have competitive advantages in physician recruitment and specialized services. The company's position is defensible but not impregnable, requiring continuous operational excellence and strategic adaptation to maintain market position.
Risks & safety
UHS demonstrates a moderate margin of safety with generally stable financial metrics, though some areas warrant attention. • Liquidity and Solvency: Current ratio of 1.32 indicates adequate short-term liquidity. Cash position of approximately $126 million is relatively modest given the company's size, but strong operating cash flow of $2.1 billion annually provides good cash generation capability. • Debt Management: Debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74 represents moderate leverage that is manageable for a healthcare company. Interest coverage appears adequate given EBITDA levels of over $2.2 billion annually. • Valuation Metrics: Trading at P/E ratio of approximately 9.6x and EV/EBITDA of 7.1x, suggesting reasonable valuation relative to earnings. Price-to-book ratio of 1.78x indicates modest premium to book value. • Cash Flow Strength: Strong free cash flow generation of over $1.1 billion annually provides financial flexibility for capital investment, debt reduction, and shareholder returns. • Other Considerations: Dependence on government reimbursement programs creates regulatory risk. Labor cost pressures and ongoing healthcare industry challenges require careful monitoring.
Recent development
Over the past several years, UHS has focused on operational recovery and strategic expansion following the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company has made significant progress in reducing premium labor costs, which peaked at $153 million per quarter in early 2022 and declined to approximately $60 million by late 2024, representing a major margin improvement initiative. Facility Expansion and Development: UHS has continued investing in new capacity, opening West Henderson Hospital in Las Vegas and planning the opening of Cedar Hill Medical Center in Washington D.C. The company has expanded its behavioral health footprint with new facilities in California and Michigan, while also developing 27 operational freestanding emergency departments to capture additional patient volumes. Technology and Care Model Innovation: The behavioral health segment has seen significant technology investments, including EMR implementation and patient observation technologies to improve care quality and operational efficiency. The company has explored alternative care models that reduce reliance on registered nurses, addressing ongoing labor shortages while maintaining quality standards. Medicaid Supplemental Payment Programs: UHS has actively pursued and secured participation in various state Medicaid supplemental payment programs, with new programs pending approval in Tennessee and Washington D.C. These programs have become increasingly important revenue sources, helping offset historically inadequate Medicaid base reimbursement rates. Strategic Focus Areas: The company has emphasized expanding its outpatient continuum of care and exploring opportunities in opioid disorder treatment. Capital deployment has focused on both organic growth through facility development and returning capital to shareholders through share repurchases, with $599 million repurchased in 2024 and authorization for an additional $1 billion program.
UHS company profile · for informational purposes only — not investment advice.
Track UHS with Drillr
SEC filings, earnings calls, insider activity, alt-data signals — all queryable through Drillr's AI terminal and MCP API.
Try Drillr for free