Panagora Asset Management Inc. Decreases Stock Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

Panagora Asset Management Inc. cut its stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 95.0% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 8,102 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 153,434 shares during the quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $1,468,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its stake in Universal Health Services by 16.6% in the 2nd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 10,029 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $1,851,000 after buying an additional 1,430 shares during the period. QRG Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 102.4% in the 2nd quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 4,820 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $873,000 after acquiring an additional 2,438 shares in the last quarter. Capital Fund Management S.A. increased its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 12.9% during the second quarter. Capital Fund Management S.A. now owns 94,086 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $17,044,000 after acquiring an additional 10,754 shares during the period. Cresset Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the first quarter worth approximately $265,000. Finally, Patton Fund Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the second quarter valued at approximately $232,000. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

UHS opened at $230.79 on Friday. The business’s 50-day moving average is $218.85 and its two-hundred day moving average is $193.59. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1 year low of $152.33 and a 1 year high of $246.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 0.96. The firm has a market capitalization of $14.42 billion, a PE ratio of 10.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.27.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The health services provider reported $5.69 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.66 by $1.03. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 8.09% and a return on equity of 19.47%. The business had revenue of $4.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.32 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $3.71 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 13.4% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 1st will be paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 1st. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 3.80%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UHS has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Guggenheim increased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $253.00 to $274.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Monday. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $219.00 price target on the stock. Zacks Research raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 27th. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $250.00 to $263.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $234.14.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,817 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $223.30, for a total value of $852,336.10. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 8,481 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,893,807.30. This trade represents a 31.04% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Elliot J. Md Mba Sussman sold 965 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $225.70, for a total value of $217,800.50. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 6,113 shares in the company, valued at $1,379,704.10. This represents a 13.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 16.40% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Universal Health Services Profile

Universal Health Services, Inc, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates acute care hospitals, and outpatient and behavioral health care facilities. It operates through Acute Care Hospital Services and Behavioral Health Care Services segments. The company's hospitals offer general and specialty surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics, emergency room care, radiology, oncology, diagnostic and coronary care, pediatric services, pharmacy services, and/or behavioral health services.