Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC Acquires 3,043 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 226.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 4,384 shares of the health services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,043 shares during the quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $896,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC purchased a new position in Universal Health Services during the second quarter valued at $29,000. MUFG Securities EMEA plc bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the second quarter worth about $31,000. Quent Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter valued at about $37,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 347.6% during the 2nd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 188 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 146 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mather Group LLC. bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $40,000. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. TD Cowen decreased their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $251.00 to $245.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday, October 14th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $219.00 price objective on the stock. 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 Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Saturday, October 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $234.13.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,817 shares of the 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 $1,893,807.30. This trade represents a 31.04% 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. Also, Director Elliot J. Md Mba Sussman sold 965 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $225.70, for a total transaction of $217,800.50. Following the completion of 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. 16.40% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 0.3%

Shares of UHS stock opened at $205.03 on Friday. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $222.12 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $202.15. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52 week low of $152.33 and a 52 week high of $246.32. The stock has a market cap of $12.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.74, a PEG ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a quick ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The health services provider reported $5.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.66 by $1.03. The firm 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 revenue was up 13.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $3.71 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 1st were issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 1st. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is 3.80%.

Universal Health Services 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.