Stock pick - Universal Health Services Inc

Universal Health Services Inc (UHS) posted a descent quarterly result on Thursday 28 Feb, 2008. The USH Inc Posted 17% increase in 4th quarter profit on back of higher revenue from its acute care and behavioral health facilities.

Universal health earned $40 million, or 75% per share, compared with $34.2 million, or 63 cents per share, for the same quarter in 2006.

Revenue for the quarter rose 12% to $1.19 billion as expected with Wall Street estimates of $1.20 billion.

Universal forecast 2008 earnings from continuing operations of $3.37 to $3.42 per share on revenue of $5.13 billion. Wall Street analysts' are estimating earnings of $3.37 per share.

The main revenue source from acute care hospitals rose 7.6 %, while revenue at behavioral health facilities rose 9.5 %.

With ongoing bloodbath on Wall Street, it becomes evident to stay in more profitable and defensive stock which will help you to keep your stock investment safe. According to me USH stock comes in that defensive stock category. This stock has unique presence in healthcare sector. The healthcare sector is said to be more defensive and less impacted with any financial crisis.

Looking at technical chart of this stock, it looks like the stock has strong resistant at $54. According to me the stock should cross $54 irrespective of what is happening in overall stock market. Still I would remain cautions and will avoid doing any stock trading in this stock until the stock crosses $54 with high volume. Once the $54 is taken out successfully with high volume and stock remains above $54 for couple of days then I would like to take long position with price target of $62 and then $67.

Median target: $62
High target: $67

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