US Bancorp DE Raises Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

US Bancorp DE raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 3.0% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 2,238 shares of the health services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $512,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. Empowered Funds LLC bought a new position in Universal Health Services in the first quarter worth approximately $354,000. Forsta AP Fonden bought a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter valued at $1,861,000. Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter worth $738,000. Inspire Investing LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter worth $897,000. Finally, Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter worth $36,000. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

NYSE:UHS opened at $208.56 on Tuesday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52 week low of $129.34 and a 52 week high of $243.25. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.91 billion, a PE ratio of 13.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.29. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $223.83 and its 200-day moving average price is $204.65.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.75 by ($0.04). Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The business had revenue of $3.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.90 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.55 earnings per share. Universal Health Services’s revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.93 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services announced that its board has initiated a stock buyback program on Wednesday, July 24th that permits the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the health services provider to repurchase up to 8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are often an indication that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on UHS. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $219.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 25th. StockNews.com lowered Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Bank of America initiated coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 target price for the company. Finally, UBS Group raised their target price on Universal Health Services from $247.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 14th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $231.14.

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.