Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ Sells 31,000 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ cut its holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 36.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 52,926 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 31,000 shares during the quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ owned about 0.08% of Universal Health Services worth $9,588,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT bought a new position in Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at approximately $30,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 347.6% during the second quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 188 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 146 shares during the period. Huntington National Bank raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 240.0% during the second quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 204 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 144 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc. lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 89.7% in the 1st quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 258 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $48,000 after acquiring an additional 122 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Universal Health Services by 22.9% in the 2nd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 354 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $64,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of UHS stock opened at $242.54 on Friday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a one year low of $152.33 and a one year high of $246.32. The stock has a market cap of $15.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.52, a P/E/G ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.33. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $215.79 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $192.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 1.19.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The health services provider reported $5.69 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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 firm had revenue of $4.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.32 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $3.71 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 13.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 15th. Investors of record on Monday, December 1st will be paid a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 1st. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.3%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is 3.80%.

Insider Activity

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Elliot J. Md Mba Sussman sold 965 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $225.70, for a total transaction of $217,800.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 6,113 shares in the company, valued at $1,379,704.10. This trade represents a 13.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,817 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred 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 sale, the director owned 8,481 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,893,807.30. This represents a 31.04% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 16.40% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have issued reports on UHS. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $219.00 price target on the stock. Raymond James Financial set a $270.00 price objective on Universal Health Services and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, November 3rd. Morgan Stanley set a $233.00 target price on Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Robert W. Baird cut their target price on Universal Health Services from $243.00 to $203.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, August 14th. Finally, UBS Group set a $231.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. 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 given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $232.64.

About Universal Health Services

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.