Principal Financial Group Inc. Sells 10,609 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

Principal Financial Group Inc. lowered its position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 14.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 62,031 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 10,609 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned about 0.10% of Universal Health Services worth $12,682,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of UHS. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 34.9% during the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 68,501 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $13,941,000 after purchasing an additional 17,728 shares during the period. Rakuten Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services in the 3rd quarter worth $1,359,000. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. raised its holdings in Universal Health Services by 36.0% during the third quarter. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. now owns 54,960 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $11,236,000 after acquiring an additional 14,536 shares during the period. Board of the Pension Protection Fund bought a new stake in Universal Health Services during the third quarter valued at about $961,000. Finally, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 66.1% in the third quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 42,198 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $8,627,000 after acquiring an additional 16,789 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a “sector perform” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. Mizuho set a $242.00 price target on Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, October 28th. Cantor Fitzgerald increased their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $227.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Zacks Research raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 27th. Finally, Barclays dropped their target price 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. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $234.13.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 0.2%

NYSE UHS opened at $212.62 on Wednesday. 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, Inc. has a 52 week low of $152.33 and a 52 week high of $246.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.10, a PEG ratio of 0.67 and a beta of 1.26. The company has a fifty day moving average of $215.25 and a two-hundred day moving average of $205.55.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Investors of record on Monday, December 1st were issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. 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%.

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.