National Pension Service Purchases 14,478 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

National Pension Service lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 41.6% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 49,250 shares of the health services provider’s stock after buying an additional 14,478 shares during the period. National Pension Service owned about 0.08% of Universal Health Services worth $10,069,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. AlphaQuest LLC increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 88.7% during the third quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 7,622 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $1,558,000 after buying an additional 3,582 shares in the last quarter. Ruffer LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the third quarter valued at about $18,130,000. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd increased its position in Universal Health Services by 4.9% during the 3rd quarter. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd now owns 225,038 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $46,007,000 after purchasing an additional 10,548 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 1.7% during the third quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 9,990 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $2,042,000 after buying an additional 165 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 10,806 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $2,209,000 after acquiring an additional 142 shares in the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 0.2%

UHS stock opened at $201.59 on Tuesday. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $218.85 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $203.46. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a one year low of $152.33 and a one year high of $246.32. The company has a market capitalization of $12.60 billion, a PE ratio of 9.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 1.03.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced 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 was Monday, December 1st. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.4%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is 3.80%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, October 27th. TD Cowen dropped their target price on Universal Health Services from $251.00 to $245.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Morgan Stanley set a $233.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $263.00 to $262.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. 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 analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Universal Health Services presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $234.13.

Insider Activity

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,817 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $223.30, for a total value of $852,336.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 8,481 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,893,807.30. The trade was a 31.04% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 16.40% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

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.