M&T Bank Corp Sells 572 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

M&T Bank Corp trimmed its stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 21.2% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 2,128 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 572 shares during the period. M&T Bank Corp’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $400,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Sentry Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the first quarter valued at approximately $35,000. UMB Bank n.a. raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 49.3% during the first quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 203 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. Huntington National Bank raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 55.6% during the fourth quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 280 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $50,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. CX Institutional bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the first quarter valued at approximately $74,000. Finally, Platinum Investment Management Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 17.6% during the fourth quarter. Platinum Investment Management Ltd. now owns 488 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $88,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of UHS stock opened at $170.51 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $11.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.57, a P/E/G ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 1.28. The business’s 50 day moving average is $183.50 and its two-hundred day moving average is $181.50. The company has a current ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12-month low of $153.99 and a 12-month high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $4.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.36 by $0.48. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 17.79% and a net margin of 7.44%. The company had revenue of $4.10 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.16 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $3.70 earnings per share. Universal Health Services’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 2nd will be paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.47%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 4.49%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on UHS. Bank of America downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $215.00 to $185.00 in a research note on Wednesday. Robert W. Baird reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $224.00 target price (down from $274.00) on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, April 15th. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $211.00 to $201.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $249.00 to $257.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 29th. Finally, Stephens upgraded shares of Universal Health Services to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, June 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $221.85.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,097 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.48, for a total value of $210,053.56. Following the sale, the director directly owned 7,884 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,509,628.32. The trade was a 12.21% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 16.40% of the company’s stock.

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.