First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. Grows Stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. boosted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 36.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 54,960 shares of the health services provider’s stock after buying an additional 14,536 shares during the period. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. owned approximately 0.09% of Universal Health Services worth $11,236,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the second quarter worth about $87,373,000. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $83,333,000. Nomura Holdings Inc. raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 100.6% during the 2nd quarter. Nomura Holdings Inc. now owns 2,560 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $464,000 after buying an additional 426,211 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 11.1% during the 2nd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,461,198 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $264,696,000 after acquiring an additional 145,730 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Amundi grew its position in Universal Health Services by 50.2% in the second quarter. Amundi now owns 403,237 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $74,385,000 after acquiring an additional 134,757 shares in the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have issued reports on UHS. UBS Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. TD Cowen cut their target price on Universal Health Services from $251.00 to $245.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Cantor Fitzgerald increased their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $227.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 27th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $219.00 target price on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $234.13.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 0.3%

NYSE:UHS opened at $205.03 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.74, a P/E/G 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. The company has a fifty day moving average of $222.12 and a 200 day moving average of $202.29. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52 week low of $152.33 and a 52 week high of $246.32.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The health services provider reported $5.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates 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 net margin of 8.09% and a return on equity of 19.47%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 13.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $3.71 earnings per share. On average, research analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

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

Insider Activity at Universal Health Services

In related news, Director Elliot J. Md Mba Sussman sold 965 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $225.70, for a total value of $217,800.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 6,113 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,379,704.10. This trade represents a 13.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,817 shares of Universal Health Services 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 sale, the director owned 8,481 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,893,807.30. This trade represents a 31.04% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Company insiders own 16.40% of the company’s stock.

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.