Assenagon Asset Management S.A. Sells 216,722 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lowered its stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 89.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 24,442 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 216,722 shares during the quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A.’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $4,997,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 2nd quarter worth $29,000. MUFG Securities EMEA plc purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services during the second quarter valued at $31,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 347.6% in the second quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 188 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 146 shares during the period. Huntington National Bank boosted its position in Universal Health Services by 240.0% in the second quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 204 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 144 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its position in Universal Health Services by 22.9% in the second quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 354 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $64,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,817 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $223.30, for a total transaction of $852,336.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 8,481 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,893,807.30. This represents a 31.04% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Elliot J. Md Mba Sussman sold 965 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $225.70, for a total transaction of $217,800.50. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 6,113 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,379,704.10. The trade was 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 Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, October 11th. Mizuho set a $242.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. Raymond James Financial set a $270.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $249.00 to $259.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $233.00 target price on Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Universal Health Services currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $234.14.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 1.2%

Shares of Universal Health Services stock opened at $227.47 on Monday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $152.33 and a fifty-two week high of $246.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 1.03. The company has a market capitalization of $14.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.81, a P/E/G ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a fifty day moving average of $223.52 and a 200 day moving average of $196.35.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted 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 business had revenue of $4.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.32 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.47% and a net margin of 8.09%.The business’s quarterly revenue was up 13.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $3.71 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 1st were paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 1st. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is presently 3.80%.

Universal Health Services Company Profile

Universal Health Services, Inc (NYSE: UHS) is one of the largest diversified health care management companies in the United States, offering a broad spectrum of services through its acute care hospital and behavioral health segments. The company operates general acute care hospitals, surgical hospitals and ambulatory centers, as well as inpatient and outpatient behavioral health facilities. Its network provides emergency and specialized medicine, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, advanced surgical care and rehabilitation, complemented by a comprehensive array of behavioral services including psychiatric treatment, addiction programs and developmental disabilities care.

In the acute care segment, UHS’s facilities deliver services ranging from emergency department treatment and intensive care to maternity care and outpatient surgery.