CX Institutional Buys New Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

CX Institutional purchased a new position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 395 shares of the health services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $74,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 99.2% during the fourth quarter. D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. now owns 12,450 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $2,234,000 after purchasing an additional 6,200 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its stake in Universal Health Services by 22.5% during the 4th quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 54,105 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $9,721,000 after purchasing an additional 9,946 shares in the last quarter. Abacus Planning Group Inc. raised its holdings in Universal Health Services by 175.6% during the fourth quarter. Abacus Planning Group Inc. now owns 2,792 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $501,000 after buying an additional 1,779 shares during the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in Universal Health Services by 30.7% during the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 455 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $81,000 after buying an additional 107 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 30.6% in the fourth quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 12,858 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $2,307,000 after buying an additional 3,011 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,097 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.48, for a total transaction of $210,053.56. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 7,884 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,509,628.32. This represents a 12.21% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Company insiders own 16.40% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UHS opened at $170.17 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $11.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.31. The company’s 50-day moving average is $181.45 and its 200 day moving average is $182.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.39. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $153.99 and a fifty-two week high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $4.84 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.36 by $0.48. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The business had revenue of $4.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.16 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $3.70 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 2nd were given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.47%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 2nd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 4.49%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently weighed in on UHS. Robert W. Baird restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $224.00 target price (down previously from $274.00) on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, March 10th. Baird R W lowered Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Guggenheim started coverage on Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. They set a “buy” rating and a $208.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on Universal Health Services from $211.00 to $201.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $224.77.

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.