Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC Acquires 17,728 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 34.9% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 68,501 shares of the health services provider’s stock after buying an additional 17,728 shares during the quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC owned 0.11% of Universal Health Services worth $13,941,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of UHS. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the second quarter worth approximately $29,000. MUFG Securities EMEA plc purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services in the second quarter worth approximately $31,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. grew its position in Universal Health Services by 347.6% in the 2nd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 188 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 146 shares during the period. Huntington National Bank raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 240.0% during the 2nd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 204 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 144 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 22.9% during the 2nd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 354 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $64,000 after buying an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UHS has been the topic of a number of research reports. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Universal Health Services from $249.00 to $259.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 13th. Mizuho set a $242.00 target price on Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated a “sector perform” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Morgan Stanley set a $233.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Universal Health Services has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $234.14.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 0.9%

Universal Health Services stock opened at $219.94 on Monday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12-month low of $152.33 and a 12-month high of $246.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.45, a P/E/G ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 1.28. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $227.20 and a 200 day moving average of $199.76. The company has a current ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The health services provider reported $5.69 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.66 by $1.03. The business had revenue of $4.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.32 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 8.09% and a return on equity of 19.47%. The company’s revenue was up 13.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $3.71 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current 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 issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 1st. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.4%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 3.80%.

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Elliot J. Md Mba Sussman sold 965 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $225.70, for a total value of $217,800.50. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 6,113 shares in the company, valued at $1,379,704.10. The trade was a 13.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,817 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $223.30, for a total value of $852,336.10. Following the sale, the director owned 8,481 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,893,807.30. This represents a 31.04% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 16.40% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Universal Health Services

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.