Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS Stake Lessened by Vanguard Group Inc.

Vanguard Group Inc. trimmed its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 1.2% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 6,896,068 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 87,218 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. owned approximately 10.61% of Universal Health Services worth $1,249,223,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of 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 valued at $64,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 2.7% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 2,665 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $501,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 5.5% in the second quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 1,432 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $259,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 0.4% in the second quarter. Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 18,244 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $3,295,000 after buying an additional 78 shares during the last quarter. Finally, HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Universal Health Services by 0.6% during the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 13,328 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $2,504,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares during the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at Universal Health Services

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,817 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $223.30, for a total transaction of $852,336.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 8,481 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,893,807.30. This trade represents a 31.04% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Elliot J. Md Mba Sussman sold 965 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction on 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 owned 6,113 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,379,704.10. This trade represents a 13.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Company insiders own 16.40% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently commented on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $215.00 to $195.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Monday, August 4th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued a “sector perform” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Barclays lifted their target price on Universal Health Services from $250.00 to $263.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday, October 14th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $219.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $233.87.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 3.0%

Shares of Universal Health Services stock opened at $232.12 on Friday. 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, Inc. has a 1-year low of $152.33 and a 1-year high of $235.48. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $210.36 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $190.52. The company has a market capitalization of $14.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.03, a PEG ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.33.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The health services provider reported $5.69 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.66 by $1.03. The company had revenue of $4.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.32 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.47% and a net margin of 8.09%.The company’s quarterly revenue was up 13.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.71 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast 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. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 1st will be paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 1st. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 3.80%.

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.