Accessibility StatementSkip Navigation Consolidated Results of Operations, As Reported and As Adjusted – Three-month periods ended September 30, 2025 and 2024: KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., Oct. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS) announced today that its reported net income attributable to UHS was $373.0 million, or $5.86 per diluted share, during the third quarter of 2025, as compared to $258.7 million, or $3.80 per diluted share, during the third quarter of 2024. Net revenues inc ...

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Core Insights - The market began 2025 positively but faced volatility due to tariff and geopolitical risks, with the Fed cutting rates by 25 basis points to 4.00–4.25% in September and signaling two more cuts for the year [1] - Despite inflation and rising unemployment, equities remain near record highs, driven by optimism over rate cuts, AI-driven earnings growth, and hopes for a soft landing [1] - Retail investors face challenges in stock selection amidst these conditions [1] Sales Growth as a Key Metric - Sales growth is preferred over earnings for evaluating stocks, as it reflects actual demand and provides visibility into a company's business model durability [3] - Companies that can grow revenues during economic downturns demonstrate pricing power and competitive advantages [3] - Constant sales growth leads to stronger cash flows, allowing for reinvestment, market expansion, or shareholder returns without excessive debt reliance [5] Stock Selection Criteria - Stocks with 5-Year Historical Sales Growth (%) greater than industry average and Cash Flow over $500 million are prioritized [6] - Additional metrics include P/S Ratio less than industry average, positive % Change in F1 Sales Estimate Revisions, Operating Margin greater than 5%, and Return on Equity (ROE) greater than 5% [7][8][9] Recommended Stocks - **Lamb Weston (LW)**: Expected sales growth rate of 1.3% for fiscal 2026, Zacks Rank 1 [12] - **Universal Health Services (UHS)**: Expected sales growth rate of 8.5% for 2025, Zacks Rank 2 [14] - **FirstEnergy Corp (FE)**: Expected sales growth of 6.6% in 2025, Zacks Rank 2 [14] - **NetEase, Inc. (NTES)**: Expected sales growth of 10.3% for 2025, Zacks Rank 2 [15] - **JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)**: Expected sales growth of 2.1% in 2025, Zacks Rank 2 [16]

Core Insights - Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) is scheduled to report its third-quarter 2025 results on October 27, with earnings estimated at $4.56 per share and revenues of $4.3 billion [1][8] Earnings Estimates - The third-quarter earnings estimates for UHS have been revised upward in the last 90 days, indicating a projected increase of 22.9% year-over-year [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues suggests an 8.9% year-over-year growth [2] - For the full year 2025, the revenue estimate stands at $17.2 billion, reflecting an 8.5% increase year-over-year, while the earnings per share estimate is $20.43, indicating a growth of approximately 23% [3] Recent Performance - UHS has outperformed the consensus earnings estimate in three of the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 9.4% [3] Earnings Prediction Model - The current model does not predict a definitive earnings beat for UHS, as it has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [4] Revenue Growth Drivers - Revenue growth in the third quarter is expected to be driven by strong performance in the Acute Care Hospital Services and Behavioral Health Care Services segments [5][8] - The Acute Care Hospital Services segment is projected to generate net revenues of $2.4 billion, representing an 8.2% year-over-year growth, with same-facility adjusted admissions expected to grow by 3.6% [6] - The Behavioral Health Care Services segment is anticipated to achieve net revenues of $1.9 billion, indicating a 9.4% increase from the prior year, supported by a 7% rise in adjusted patient days [9] Cost Pressures - Despite the expected revenue growth, UHS may face margin pressures due to rising total expenses, particularly from increased salaries, wages, and supply costs, with salaries projected to rise by 8.6% year-over-year and supply expenses by nearly 8.1% [10]

Core Insights - The Zacks Medical-Hospital industry is facing multiple challenges, including rising labor and supply costs, workforce burnout, regulatory hurdles, and tighter funding, while also dealing with cybersecurity threats. However, technology-driven innovations may lead to future efficiencies and a gradual recovery in patient volumes [1][4][5]. Industry Overview - The industry consists of for-profit hospital companies providing various healthcare services, including acute care, rehabilitation, and psychiatric care. Revenue is influenced by inpatient occupancy, medical services provided, and outpatient procedures. Payments come from government programs, managed care plans, private insurers, and patients directly [2]. Key Trends - There is a rising demand for healthcare services, particularly due to an aging population projected to increase from 56.1 million in 2020 to 73.1 million by 2030. National health spending is expected to reach $5.6 trillion by 2025 and $8.6 trillion by 2033. However, there is a shift towards outpatient and home-based services, leading to excess capacity in many hospitals [3]. Cost Pressures - Hospitals are experiencing margin pressures from labor shortages, rising wages, supply chain disruptions, and increased benefit costs. New tariffs on imported medical devices are expected to further inflate expenses. Providers are adopting automation and optimizing staffing to control costs, while cybersecurity risks are increasing insurance premiums [4]. Technological Advancements - Hospitals are increasingly utilizing AI, automation, and real-time analytics to enhance efficiency and clinical outcomes. Telehealth services, which gained traction during the pandemic, remain crucial for expanding access to healthcare [5]. Mergers and Acquisitions - Post-pandemic M&A activity is on the rise as hospitals seek scale and financial stability. Consolidation is driven by economic recovery and evolving care models, with smaller facilities likely to be acquired by larger systems [6]. Industry Performance - The Zacks Medical-Hospital industry currently holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 201, placing it in the bottom 17% of over 240 Zacks industries, indicating challenging near-term prospects [7][8]. Stock Performance - Over the past year, the industry has underperformed the S&P 500, losing 5.1%, while the S&P 500 gained 16%. However, it outperformed the broader Medical sector, which declined by 13.2% [10]. Current Valuation - The industry trades at a trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA ratio of 8.14X, compared to the S&P 500's 18.43X and the sector's 10.32X. The industry has fluctuated between 6.47X and 9.55X over the past five years [13]. Company Highlights - **HCA Healthcare**: Focuses on general and acute care hospitals, with a projected 2025 EPS of $26.17, indicating a 19.2% year-over-year growth. The company has seen a 26.4% share price increase over the past six months [16][17]. - **Universal Health Services**: Manages acute care hospitals and outpatient centers, with a 2025 EPS estimate of $20.43, reflecting a 23% year-over-year increase. Shares have gained 17.3% in the past six months [20][21]. - **Community Health Systems**: Operates a network of acute care hospitals, with a projected 2025 EPS growth of 67%. The company has seen a 17.8% increase in share price over the past six months [24][26].

Core Insights - Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) is a significant player in the U.S. healthcare sector, operating a network of acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities, and ambulatory centers, competing with major companies like HCA Healthcare and Tenet Healthcare [1] Performance Summary - UHS has experienced a 30-day gain of 3.38%, indicating strong investor confidence and positive market sentiment, despite a recent 1.91% decline over the last 10 days, which may present a buying opportunity for investors [2][6] - The stock is projected to appreciate by 14.75%, supported by UHS's strategic positioning and strong fundamentals within the healthcare sector, making it an appealing option for growth-oriented investors [3][6] Financial Health - UHS's financial health is highlighted by a Piotroski Score of 8, reflecting strong profitability and efficient operations, which is essential for sustaining growth and delivering shareholder value [4] - Analysts have set a target price of $226.33 for UHS, indicating substantial upside potential from current levels, with recent price movements suggesting a potential support level, making it an attractive entry point for investors [5]

Group 1 - Universal Health Services, Inc. will report its third quarter results for the period ending September 30, 2025, after market close on October 27, 2025 [1] - A conference call for investors and analysts is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. Eastern time on October 28, 2025, with a live webcast available on the company's website [1] - Participants can register in advance for the conference call to receive a confirmation email with details on how to join, including a unique passcode and registrant ID [1] Group 2 - Universal Health Services, Inc. is one of the largest hospital companies in the United States, operating acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities, and ambulatory centers across the U.S., the U.K., and Puerto Rico [2]

Company Overview - Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) has a market cap of $12.4 billion and operates various medical care facilities including acute care hospitals and behavioral health centers [1] - The company is categorized as a large-cap stock, reflecting its substantial size and influence in the medical care facilities industry [2] Financial Performance - UHS stock reached an all-time high of $243.25 on September 24, 2024, and is currently trading 20% below that peak [3] - Over the past three months, UHS stock has increased by 12.2%, outperforming the iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (IHF), which rose by 3.7% [3] - Year-to-date, UHS stock has climbed 8.5%, but has dropped 19.1% over the past 52 weeks, while IHF saw a 1.8% rise and a 14.7% decline over the same period [3] Technical Indicators - UHS has recently surpassed its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, indicating a potential uptrend [4] Market Position - UHS has underperformed compared to its peer Encompass Health Corporation (EHC), which experienced a 30.6% surge in 2025 and 37.3% returns over the past 52 weeks [5] Analyst Ratings - Among 20 analysts covering UHS stock, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," with a mean price target of $217.75, suggesting an 11.8% upside potential from current price levels [6]

Core Viewpoint - Universal Health Services (UHS) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Movement - The Zacks rating system is based on the consensus measure of EPS estimates from sell-side analysts, reflecting the company's changing earnings picture [1][2]. - A strong correlation exists between earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements, making the Zacks rating system valuable for investors [4][6]. Institutional Investor Influence - Institutional investors utilize earnings estimates to determine the fair value of a company's shares, impacting stock price movements through their large transactions [4]. Business Improvement Indicators - Rising earnings estimates and the Zacks rating upgrade suggest an improvement in Universal Health Services' underlying business, which could lead to increased stock prices [5]. Earnings Estimate Revisions - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, Universal Health Services is expected to earn $20.28 per share, with a 5.1% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past three months [8]. Zacks Rank System Overview - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with a strong historical performance of Zacks Rank 1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7]. - The upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 places Universal Health Services in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, indicating a strong potential for market-beating returns in the near term [10].

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of sales growth over traditional earnings metrics for evaluating stocks, especially in volatile market conditions [2][3][10] - A selection of stocks with strong sales growth and cash flow is recommended, including Universal Health Services, Methanex, Arista Networks, Voya Financial, and Maximus [2][10][12] Sales Growth as a Metric - Sales growth is preferred as it reflects actual demand for a company's products or services, providing better visibility into the durability of the business model [3][5] - Companies that can expand their sales during economic stress demonstrate pricing power and competitive advantages [3][5] Earnings Limitations - Earnings can be misleading due to one-off charges, cost-cutting, and accounting adjustments, making them less reliable indicators of a company's trajectory [4] Cash Flow and Financial Flexibility - Sustained sales growth leads to stronger cash flows, allowing companies to reinvest in innovation, expand markets, or return capital to shareholders without excessive debt reliance [5] Stock Selection Criteria - Stocks are shortlisted based on criteria such as 5-Year Historical Sales Growth greater than industry average and Cash Flow exceeding $500 million [6] - Additional metrics include P/S Ratio, % Change in Sales Estimate Revisions, Operating Margin, Return on Equity, and Zacks Rank [7][8][9] Recommended Stocks - Universal Health Services (UHS) is expected to have a sales growth rate of 8.5% in 2025 and holds a Zacks Rank of 2 [11][12] - Methanex (MEOH) anticipates a sales growth rate of 5.6% in 2025 with a Zacks Rank of 1 [12] - Arista Networks (ANET) is projected to achieve a sales growth of 25.4% in 2025 and has a Zacks Rank of 2 [13] - Voya Financial (VOYA) expects a sales growth of 16.1% in 2025, also holding a Zacks Rank of 2 [14] - Maximus (MMS) forecasts a sales growth of 2.7% in fiscal 2025 and has a Zacks Rank of 1 [15]