UPDATE: BMO Capital Raises PT on Universal Health Services Following 1Q13 Earnings Call

In a report published Monday, BMO Capital Markets analyst Jennifer Lynch reiterated a Market Perform rating on Universal Health Services UHS, and slightly raised the price target from $66.00 to $67.00. In the report, Lynch noted, “Universal Health Services posted first-quarter EPS that was better than our estimate but still exhibited the softness in volumes being discussed industry-wide. Some moving parts to the calendar generated a weaker-than-expected March, but according to management, April has shown some improvement – making the volume shift from one month to the other largely a wash. Acute results for the balance of this year could remain lackluster as the U.S. awaits healthcare reform changes scheduled for January 1. The behavioral business continues to perform well, although was not impervious to the calendar shift in the quarter.” Universal Health Services closed on Friday at $64.78.