Core Viewpoint - Universal Health Services (UHS) shares have increased by 2.4% recently, closing at $178.74, with a potential upside of 26.3% based on Wall Street analysts' mean price target of $225.81 [1] Price Targets - The average of 16 short-term price targets ranges from a low of $198 to a high of $280, with a standard deviation of $21.94, indicating variability among analysts [2] - The lowest estimate suggests a 10.8% increase from the current price, while the highest estimate indicates a 56.7% upside [2] Analyst Sentiment - Analysts show a consensus that UHS will report better earnings than previously estimated, which historically correlates with stock price increases [4][11] - Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has risen by 0.3%, with four estimates moving higher and one lower [12] Zacks Rank - UHS holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate factors, suggesting a strong potential for upside [13]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported net income attributable to UHS per diluted share of $4.8 for Q1 2025, with adjusted net income per diluted share at $4.84 [4] - Adjusted admissions to acute care hospitals increased by 2.4% year-over-year [4] - Same facility net revenues in the Acute Care Hospital segment increased by 5% compared to Q1 2024 [5] - EBITDA increased by 21% after excluding Medicaid supplemental payments [5] - Cash generated from operating activities decreased to $360 million from $396 million in Q1 2024 due to delays in Medicaid payments [6] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Same facility net revenues at behavioral health hospitals increased by 5.5%, driven by a 5.8% increase in revenue per adjusted day [5] - Adjusted patient days were relatively flat compared to the prior year, impacted by the leap day in 2024 and adverse weather conditions [6] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced a reacceleration of patient day growth in March 2025 [6] - The Nevada supplemental program received $82 million in payments in April, related to Q1 revenues [6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on managing operating expenses effectively across both business segments [8] - The opening of new facilities, such as West Henderson Hospital, is expected to contribute positively to EBITDA [10] - The company reiterated its full-year earnings guidance despite uncertainties in the external operating environment [11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in underlying business performance despite external uncertainties [11] - The company anticipates achieving a behavioral patient day revenue growth target of 2.5% to 3% for the year [15] - Management acknowledged ongoing challenges in labor markets but noted improvements in staffing levels [78] Other Important Information - The company spent $239 million on capital expenditures in Q1 2025 and repurchased $1 million of its own shares [7] - The company has $1.02 billion of available borrowing capacity under its revolving credit facility [7] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on behavioral health volumes and future guidance - Management confirmed that the full-year guidance of 2.5% to 3% patient day revenue growth remains reasonable despite a slow start in Q1 [15][20] Question: Updates on Medicaid supplemental payment programs - Management indicated that approvals for Tennessee and D.C. programs are expected, but timing remains uncertain [16][17] Question: Impact of tariffs on supply chain - Management noted that approximately 75% of supply chain purchases are insulated from tariffs, and they are monitoring vendor responses [26][28] Question: Trends in acute business and acuity - Management reported that acuity was muted in Q1 due to a busy flu season but expects normalization as the year progresses [62] Question: Expense management and premium labor costs - Premium pay costs were consistent at $63 million, and management is optimistic about sustaining operating expense controls [70][72] Question: Updates on commercial rate negotiations - Management stated that overall guidance for acute care revenue growth remains at 5% to 6%, with no significant impact from payer behavior noted [105][106]

Core Insights - Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) reported first-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $4.84, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 11% and reflecting a year-over-year increase of 30.8% [1] - Net revenues for the quarter reached nearly $4.1 billion, marking a 6.7% year-over-year growth, although it fell short of the consensus estimate by 1.1% [1] Financial Performance - Adjusted EBITDA net of NCI was $598.2 million, up 13.8% year over year, surpassing the estimate of $559.3 million [3] - Total operating costs increased by 5.5% year over year to $3.6 billion, driven by higher salaries, wages, benefits, and other operating expenses [3] - Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the first quarter stood at $126.8 million, slightly up from $126 million at the end of 2024 [6] - Total assets increased to $14.9 billion from $14.5 billion at the end of 2024 [6] - Long-term debt rose to $4.6 billion from $4.5 billion as of December 31, 2024 [7] - Cash flows from operations were $360 million, down 9.2% from the previous year [7] Segment Performance - Acute Care Hospital Services saw adjusted admissions rise by 2.4% on a same-facility basis, with net revenues increasing by 6.5% [4] - Behavioral Health Care Services experienced a 1.6% decline in adjusted admissions on a same-facility basis, but net revenues increased by 5.5% [5] Share Repurchase and Guidance - UHS repurchased shares worth $180.6 million in the first quarter, with a remaining repurchase capacity of approximately $643.7 million [8] - The company anticipates 2025 net revenues between $17.02 billion and $17.36 billion, indicating an 8.6% improvement from 2024 [10] - Adjusted EBITDA is projected to be in the range of $2.36 billion to $2.48 billion, suggesting a 7.8% growth from 2024 [10] - EPS is expected to be between $18.45 and $19.95, implying a 15.6% increase from 2024 [10]

Universal Health Services (UHS) Q1 2025 Earnings Call April 29, 2025 09:00 AM ET Company Participants Steve Filton - Executive VP, CFO & SecretaryMarc Miller - CEO, President & DirectorAndrew Mok - DirectorBen Hendrix - Vice PresidentBenjamin Rossi - Equity Research AssociateJoshua Raskin - Partner - Managed Care & ProvidersCraig Hettenbach - Executive DirectorA.J. Rice - Managing Director Conference Call Participants Justin Lake - Analyst - Healthcare ServicesSarah James - Managing Director & Equity Analys ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 28, 2025 CONTACT: Steve Filton Chief Financial Officer 610-768-3300 UNIVERSAL HEALTH SERVICES, INC. ANNOUNCES 2025 FIRST QUARTER FINANCIAL RESULTS Consolidated Results of Operations, As Reported and As Adjusted – Three-month periods ended March 31, 2025 and 2024: KING OF PRUSSIA, PA – Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS) announced today that its reported net income attributable to UHS was $316.7 million, or $4.80 per diluted share, during the first quarter of 2025, as comp ...

Core Insights - Universal Health Services (UHS) reported revenue of $4.1 billion for the quarter ended March 2025, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 6.7% [1] - Earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter was $4.84, up from $3.70 in the same quarter last year, resulting in an EPS surprise of +11.01% against the consensus estimate of $4.36 [1] - The reported revenue was slightly below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.14 billion, showing a surprise of -1.06% [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Behavioral health admissions totaled 117,788, which was below the two-analyst average estimate of 122,821 [4] - Net revenues from behavioral health services were reported at $1.75 billion, compared to the average estimate of $1.79 billion, marking a year-over-year increase of +5.5% [4] - Net revenues from acute care hospital services matched the average estimate of $2.35 billion, representing a +7.5% change from the previous year [4] - Operating income for behavioral health care services was $337.68 million, slightly below the three-analyst average estimate of $346.29 million [4] - Operating income for acute care hospital services was reported at $254.79 million, exceeding the average estimate of $206.21 million [4] Stock Performance - Shares of Universal Health Services have returned -7.8% over the past month, compared to a -4.3% change in the Zacks S&P 500 composite [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating potential for outperformance in the near term [3]

Core Insights - Universal Health Services (UHS) reported quarterly earnings of $4.84 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.36 per share, and up from $3.70 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of 11.01% [1] - The company posted revenues of $4.1 billion for the quarter ended March 2025, which was 1.06% below the Zacks Consensus Estimate, but an increase from $3.84 billion year-over-year [2] - UHS has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times over the last four quarters and has topped consensus revenue estimates three times as well [2] Earnings Outlook - The sustainability of UHS's stock price movement will largely depend on management's commentary during the earnings call and future earnings expectations [3][4] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $4.84 on revenues of $4.21 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $18.94 on revenues of $17.12 billion [7] Industry Context - The Medical - Hospital industry, to which UHS belongs, is currently ranked in the top 11% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating a favorable outlook for the sector [8] - Empirical research suggests a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can be tracked using tools like the Zacks Rank [5][6]

Industry Overview - The Zacks Medical-Hospital industry consists of for-profit hospital companies providing various healthcare services, including acute care, rehabilitation, and psychiatric care [3] - Revenue generation is influenced by inpatient occupancy levels, medical services ordered, and outpatient procedure volumes [3] - Payments for services come from government programs like Medicare and Medicaid, managed care plans, private insurers, and directly from patients [3] Key Trends Shaping the Hospital Industry - Growing patient volumes are driven by the resumption of elective procedures post-pandemic, with the 65+ age group projected to increase from 17.3% in 2022 to 22.8% by 2050 [4] - Health spending is expected to reach $5.3 trillion by 2025, indicating strong demand for healthcare services [4] - Rising costs are a concern, but programs like the Affordable Care Act are anticipated to support continued growth [4] Managing Cost Pressures - Hospitals are facing rising expenses due to increased patient volumes and higher supply, labor, and benefit costs [5] - Strategies to counter these pressures include improving labor productivity, adopting cost-saving technologies, and enhancing operational efficiency [5] - Stabilizing patient volumes and renegotiated supplier contracts are expected to strengthen cost control [5] Embracing the Digital Shift - The healthcare sector is accelerating the adoption of AI, automation, and real-time analytics to enhance patient care and streamline operations [6] - Telehealth and telemedicine have become essential components of modern healthcare delivery, especially post-pandemic [6] Rising M&A Activity - Mergers and acquisitions are a key growth catalyst, with the industry expected to see continued deal activity driven by capacity expansion and efficiency goals [7] - Economic stabilization is likely to boost confidence in consolidation efforts within the fragmented industry [7] Zacks Industry Rank Shows Promise - The Zacks Medical-Hospital industry currently holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 27, placing it in the top 11% of nearly 250 Zacks industries [9] - Positive earnings outlook and revisions indicate optimism about the industry's growth potential [10] Industry Performance - The Zacks Medical-Hospital industry has outperformed the Zacks Medical sector and the S&P 500, gaining 3% year-to-date compared to the sector's 3.3% decline and the S&P 500's 6.4% fall [12] Industry's Current Valuation - The industry trades at a trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA ratio of 7.48X, significantly lower than the S&P 500's 16.31X and the sector's 10.48X [15] - Over the past five years, the industry has seen an EV/EBITDA range of 6.16X to 9.55X, with a median of 7.99X [15] Company Highlights - **Universal Health Services**: Focuses on acute care hospitals and outpatient centers, with growth driven by rising patient days and an expanding care network [18] - **Tenet Healthcare Corporation**: Operates a broad network of hospitals, with strong revenue growth in its Ambulatory Care segment [22] - **HCA Healthcare**: Positioned for growth with rising patient volumes and expansion into telemedicine [26] - **Community Health Systems**: Focuses on telehealth and hospital acquisitions to enhance specialty services and improve cost efficiency [28]

Core Viewpoint - Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) is expected to report first-quarter 2025 results on April 28, 2025, with earnings estimated at $4.36 per share and revenues of $4.14 billion, reflecting year-over-year growth of 17.8% and 7.8% respectively [1][2] Financial Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for UHS's revenues in 2025 is $17.12 billion, indicating an 8.1% year-over-year increase, while the EPS estimate for the current year is $18.94, suggesting a 14% rise year-over-year [2] - UHS has beaten consensus earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 15.5% [2] Earnings Prediction - The current model does not predict a definitive earnings beat for UHS, as it has an Earnings ESP of -0.83% despite holding a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [3] Revenue Segments - The Acute Care Hospital Services segment is projected to generate net revenues of $2.3 billion, reflecting a 7.4% year-over-year growth, with same-facility adjusted admissions expected to grow by 1.6% [6] - The Behavioral Health Care Services segment is estimated to achieve net revenues of $1.8 billion, indicating an 8.2% increase from the prior year, with adjusted patient days expected to rise by 2.8% [8] Cost Pressures - UHS's margins may face pressure due to rising total expenses, particularly from increased salaries, wages, and benefits, which are anticipated to rise by 7.3% year-over-year, alongside supply expenses expected to increase nearly 2% [9]

Core Viewpoint - Growth investors are increasingly focusing on stocks with above-average financial growth, and Universal Health Services (UHS) is highlighted as a strong candidate due to its favorable growth metrics and Zacks Rank [2][10]. Earnings Growth - Historical EPS growth for Universal Health Services stands at 5.7%, but projected EPS growth for this year is 14%, surpassing the industry average of 13.8% [5][4]. Asset Utilization Ratio - Universal Health Services has an asset utilization ratio (sales-to-total-assets) of 1.11, indicating it generates $1.11 in sales for every dollar in assets, compared to the industry average of 0.89. Additionally, the company's sales are expected to grow by 8.1% this year, significantly higher than the industry average of 1.1% [7][6]. Earnings Estimate Revisions - The current-year earnings estimates for Universal Health Services have been revised upward, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by 2.8% over the past month, indicating a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions [8][10].