Have you been paying attention to shares of Universal Health Services (UHS)? Shares have been on the move with the stock up 6.5% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $214.28 in the previous session. Universal Health Services has gained 19.3% since the start of the year compared to the 2.6% move for the Zacks Medical sector and the 30.5% return for the Zacks Medical - Hospital industry.
What's Driving the Outperformance?
The stock has a great record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't missed our earnings consensus estimate in any of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on October 27, 2025, Universal Health Services reported EPS of $5.69 versus consensus estimate of $4.66.
For the current fiscal year, Universal Health Services is expected to post earnings of $20.58 per share on $17.16 in revenues. This represents a 23.9% change in EPS on a 8.43% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $22 per share on $18.04 in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of 6.91% and 5.11%, respectively.
Valuation Metrics
While Universal Health Services has moved to its 52-week high over the past few weeks, investors need to be asking, what is next for the company? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company is due for a pullback from this level.
On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as these give investors a variety of ways to comb through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). These styles are represented by grades running from A to F in the categories of Value, Growth, and Momentum, while there is a combined VGM Score as well. Investors should consider the style scores a valuable tool that can help you to pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.
Universal Health Services has a Value Score of A. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are A and C, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of A.
In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 10.4X current fiscal year EPS estimates, which is a premium to the peer industry average of 9.8X. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 8X versus its peer group's average of 8X. Additionally, the stock has a PEG ratio of 0.88. This is good enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective, making Universal Health Services an interesting choice for value investors.
Zacks Rank
We also need to consider the stock's Zacks Rank, as this supersedes any trend on the style score front. Fortunately, Universal Health Services currently has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy) thanks to a solid earnings estimate revision trend.
Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if Universal Health Services meets the list of requirements. Thus, it seems as though Universal Health Services shares could have potential in the weeks and months to come.
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Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
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