State of Michigan Retirement System Sells 300 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

State of Michigan Retirement System trimmed its stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 1.6% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 18,374 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 300 shares during the period. State of Michigan Retirement System’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $3,398,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in UHS. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 0.8% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 7,099,282 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $1,295,335,000 after purchasing an additional 57,036 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 5.3% in the 4th quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 2,071,022 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $315,707,000 after buying an additional 103,802 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its holdings in Universal Health Services by 42.8% in the 4th quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 736,542 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $112,278,000 after acquiring an additional 220,823 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 582,809 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $88,843,000 after acquiring an additional 5,557 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Balyasny Asset Management L.P. boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 32,501.2% during the fourth quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 570,847 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $87,020,000 after acquiring an additional 569,096 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

NYSE:UHS opened at $235.36 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $15.75 billion, a PE ratio of 19.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a quick ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12-month low of $119.90 and a 12-month high of $235.60. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $201.81 and a 200 day moving average price of $183.79.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The health services provider reported $4.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.37 by $0.94. The business had revenue of $3.91 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.87 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 6.22%. Universal Health Services’s quarterly revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.53 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services declared that its board has initiated a share buyback plan on Wednesday, July 24th that allows the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the health services provider to purchase up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically a sign that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd will be issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.34%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 3rd. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is 6.78%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Universal Health Services news, EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $210.85, for a total value of $3,192,479.85. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,253 shares in the company, valued at $1,107,595.05. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $210.85, for a total value of $3,192,479.85. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 5,253 shares in the company, valued at $1,107,595.05. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $217.64, for a total value of $749,552.16. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,971 shares in the company, valued at $864,248.44. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 21,970 shares of company stock worth $4,653,535 in the last quarter. 16.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on UHS shares. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $183.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Robert W. Baird raised Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $198.00 to $236.00 in a research report on Wednesday, June 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $182.00 to $186.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 30th. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $247.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. Finally, Stephens reissued an “equal weight” rating and issued a $200.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Thursday, July 25th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $219.46.

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.