Core Insights - Three stocks with strong growth characteristics and buy ranks are highlighted for investors to consider on December 3 Group 1: Micron Technology, Inc. (MU) - Micron Technology is a semiconductor company with a Zacks Rank 1 [1] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 7% over the last 60 days [1] - The company has a PEG ratio of 0.49, significantly lower than the industry average of 1.41 [1] - Micron Technology possesses a Growth Score of A [1] Group 2: Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) - Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation is a dredging services provider with a Zacks Rank 1 [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 7.8% over the last 60 days [2] - The company has a PEG ratio of 0.97, compared to the industry average of 2.91 [2] - Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation possesses a Growth Score of A [2] Group 3: Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) - Universal Health Services is a healthcare services company with a Zacks Rank 1 [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 6.8% over the last 60 days [3] - The company has a PEG ratio of 0.81, which is lower than the industry average of 0.96 [3] - Universal Health Services possesses a Growth Score of B [3]

Core Insights - Five stocks have been added to the Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) List, indicating strong potential for investment returns Group 1: Company Earnings Estimates - Norwood Financial Corp. (NWFL) has seen a 16.6% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [1] - Kennametal Inc. (KMT) has experienced a 25% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [1] - Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp. (MODG) has seen a nearly 59% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [2] - Interface, Inc. (TILE) has experienced an 8.8% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [2] - Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) has seen a 6.7% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [3]

Core Viewpoint - Universal Health Services (UHS) has shown strong performance in its recent earnings report, with significant growth in earnings and revenues, leading to an upward revision of its financial guidance for 2025 [3][11]. Financial Performance - UHS reported Q3 2025 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $5.69, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 22.1% and reflecting a year-over-year increase of 53.4% [3]. - Net revenues reached $4.5 billion, marking a 13.4% year-over-year improvement and surpassing the consensus estimate by 4.2% [3]. - Adjusted EBITDA rose 27.4% year over year to $670.6 million, exceeding the estimate of $577.4 million [5]. Segment Performance - In Acute Care Hospital Services, adjusted admissions grew 2% on a same-facility basis, with net revenues improving 12.8% [6]. - Behavioral Health Care Services saw adjusted admissions increase by 0.5%, with net revenues rising 9.3% on a same-facility basis [7]. Operational Costs - Total operating costs for the quarter were $4 billion, an 11% increase year over year, driven by higher salaries, wages, and benefits [5]. Financial Position - As of September 30, 2025, UHS had cash and cash equivalents of $112.9 million, down 10.4% from the end of 2024 [8]. - Long-term debt decreased by 11.5% year over year to $4 billion, while total equity increased by 7.1% to $7.2 billion [9]. Share Repurchase Program - UHS repurchased shares worth approximately $234.3 million in Q3 and approved a $1.5 billion increase to its stock repurchase program, bringing the total remaining authorization to $1.8 billion [10]. Revised Guidance - The company revised its 2025 net revenue guidance to a range of $17.306-$17.445 billion, indicating a projected growth of 9.8% from 2024 [11]. - EPS is now expected to be between $21.50 and $22.10, reflecting a 31.2% growth from the previous year [12]. Market Outlook - Estimates for UHS have been trending upward, and the stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), suggesting an expectation of above-average returns in the coming months [15].

Core Insights - Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) is a healthcare company that provides care and receives reimbursement through Medicare, Medicaid, and individual insurance plans [1] - UHS owns a small insurance subsidiary known as Prominence Health, which serves as a part of its operations [1] Company Overview - UHS operates primarily in the healthcare sector, focusing on providing care and managing reimbursements from various government and private insurance programs [1] - The company has diversified its operations by owning Prominence Health, enhancing its service offerings [1]

Core Insights - The company has experienced a largely expected performance in the third quarter, with notable positive and negative surprises [2] - A significant positive factor was the receipt of approximately $90 million in annual DPP payments from Washington, D.C., which had been pending CMS approval [2] - The company is now operating in a post-COVID environment, with business models returning to more historically normative patterns [3] Financial Performance - The company reported mid-single digit same-store revenue growth, with acute care revenue growth in the range of 5.5% to 6% [3] - The growth is evenly split between different business segments, indicating a balanced performance across operations [3] Future Outlook - The company anticipates continued alignment with historical performance models as it moves towards 2026 [3]

Summary of Universal Health Services (UHS) 2025 Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Universal Health Services (NYSE: UHS) - **Date of Conference**: November 19, 2025 - **Key Speakers**: CFO Steve Filton, VP of IR Darren Heikes Key Points Industry Context - The company operates in the healthcare services industry, specifically focusing on hospital and behavioral health services [1][2]. Financial Performance - **Third Quarter Earnings**: The company reported largely expected performance with a notable positive impact from $90 million in annual DPP payments from Washington, DC, pending CMS approval [2]. - **Revenue Growth**: Same-store revenue growth is in the mid-single digits, with acute care growth at approximately 5.5%-6% and behavioral care at 6%-7% [3]. - **Adjusted Patient-Day Growth**: Expected to be in the range of 2%-3% in the near term, with a cautious outlook due to potential holiday fluctuations [3][34]. Exchange Subsidy Impact - The expiration of exchange subsidies could result in a $100 million headwind, with 6%-6.5% of adjusted admissions in the acute business being exchange patients [5][6]. - It is estimated that about one-third of exchange patients may lose coverage, impacting revenue [7][15]. Provider Tax Benefits - The current run rate for provider tax benefits is approximately $1.3 billion, up $140 million from previous estimates [16]. - Proposed cuts to Medicaid supplemental payments are expected to begin in 2028, with a projected impact of $420 million-$470 million by 2032 [19][20]. Behavioral Health Trends - The company is experiencing a shift from inpatient to outpatient care in behavioral health, with outpatient revenue currently at 10%-15% of total behavioral revenue [39][42]. - Staffing improvements are crucial for meeting demand, with ongoing efforts to reduce turnover and fill vacancies [36][37]. AI and Revenue Cycle Management - The company has focused on enhancing revenue cycle performance, attributing a 1-2% increase in pricing to better collections and coding practices, partly driven by AI [45][46]. - Future pricing growth is expected to moderate to around 3% as the company continues to implement these initiatives [49]. Future Outlook - The company plans to provide detailed guidance for 2026 at the end of February during the Q4 earnings call [4]. - There is a cautious optimism regarding the growth trajectory, particularly in behavioral health, with expectations of gradual improvements in staffing and operational efficiency [34][36]. Additional Insights - The company is exploring the establishment of freestanding outpatient facilities to cater to patients who prefer not to receive care on hospital campuses [41]. - The impact of regulatory changes and CMS guidelines on provider tax programs remains uncertain, with ongoing monitoring and adjustments to estimates as needed [22][24]. This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the Universal Health Services conference call, highlighting the company's current performance, challenges, and strategic outlook.

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on "buying high and selling higher," rather than traditional strategies of buying low and waiting for recovery [1] Group 1: Momentum Investing Strategy - Momentum investors often face challenges in determining the right entry point, as stocks may lose momentum when their valuations exceed future growth potential [2] - Investing in bargain stocks that exhibit recent price momentum can be a safer strategy, utilizing tools like the Zacks Momentum Style Score to identify potential opportunities [3] Group 2: Universal Health Services (UHS) Analysis - UHS has shown a price increase of 10% over the past four weeks, indicating growing investor interest [4] - The stock has gained 21.3% over the past 12 weeks, with a beta of 1.33, suggesting it moves 33% more than the market [5] - UHS has a Momentum Score of B, indicating a favorable time to invest based on momentum [6] Group 3: Earnings Estimates and Valuation - UHS has received a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) due to upward revisions in earnings estimates, which typically attract more investors [7] - The stock is trading at a Price-to-Sales ratio of 0.83, suggesting it is undervalued at 83 cents for each dollar of sales [7] Group 4: Additional Investment Opportunities - Besides UHS, there are other stocks that meet the criteria of the 'Fast-Paced Momentum at a Bargain' screen, presenting further investment opportunities [8] - Various Zacks Premium Screens are available to assist in identifying winning stock picks based on different investing styles [9]

Core Insights - U.S. stock markets have experienced a significant rally in 2023, with the S&P 500 Index up 16.7% year to date, primarily driven by advancements in artificial intelligence technology [1][8] - Several non-tech companies have also shown strong performance, indicating potential investment opportunities in diverse sectors [1][8] Company Summaries General Motors Co. (GM) - GM holds a 17% market share as the top-selling U.S. automaker, with strong demand across its brands [5] - The company reported a 10% year-over-year sales increase in China and has generated $2 billion in revenue from its software and services division [6] - GM's expected revenue and earnings growth rates for next year are -0.7% and 7.9%, respectively, with a 10.8% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 30 days [7] Morgan Stanley (MS) - MS is focusing on wealth and asset management, with strategic acquisitions like EquityZen to enhance its market position [8] - The investment banking segment is projected to see revenue and fee increases of 11.7% and 12.8% in 2025, respectively [9] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for next year are 4.1% and 5.8%, with a 3.7% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 30 days [10] Interactive Brokers Group Inc. (IBKR) - IBKR is enhancing its proprietary software and expanding its global footprint, which is expected to support revenue growth [11][12] - The company reported solid revenue growth and lower expenses in its third-quarter results for 2025 [12] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for next year are 5.3% and 7.8%, with a 1.4% improvement in earnings estimates over the last seven days [13] Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVS) - LVS reported a 77.3% increase in earnings and a 24.2% increase in revenues year-over-year for the third quarter of 2025, driven by strong travel demand [14] - The company is focusing on growth in Macao and Singapore, with significant capital investments and new offerings at Marina Bay Sands [15] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for next year are 5.1% and 7.3%, with a 10.1% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 30 days [16] Universal Health Services Inc. (UHS) - UHS is expanding its Acute Care and Behavioral Health segments, resulting in a 9.9% increase in net revenues year-over-year for the first nine months of 2025 [17] - The Acute Care unit's revenues rose 11.5% year-over-year, and the company is committed to shareholder returns through share repurchases and dividends [18] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for next year are 5% and 7.7%, with a 0.1% improvement in earnings estimates over the last seven days [19]

Core Insights - Universal Health Realty Income Trust (UHT) is a small-cap REIT focused on the healthcare sector, demonstrating slow but steady growth over the past decade [1] - The company operates in a growing niche, offers a high dividend yield, and has potential for capital appreciation [1] - The investment strategy emphasizes identifying undervalued companies with strong fundamentals and potential catalysts for growth [1] Company Overview - UHT is characterized by its ownership of healthcare properties and has maintained a consistent growth trajectory [1] - The company is positioned to reward shareholders through dividends and capital appreciation opportunities [1] Investment Strategy - The focus is on companies that provide healthy dividends and exhibit clear potential for capital appreciation [1] - The investment approach includes filtering for companies that are temporarily undervalued compared to their fundamentals, peers, and historical performance [1] - A preference for businesses with high odds for capital appreciation driven by foreseeable catalysts is highlighted [1]

Core Insights - LVMH share price has experienced a strong uptrend recently, attributed to easing concerns regarding its Chinese business [1] - The share price reached a high of €630, marking its highest level since March and representing a 45% increase from its lowest point [1]