Aberdeen Group plc Sells 25,341 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

Aberdeen Group plc cut its stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 86.1% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,077 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 25,341 shares during the period. Aberdeen Group plc’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $820,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. GF Fund Management CO. LTD. raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 11.5% during the third quarter. GF Fund Management CO. LTD. now owns 1,567 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $320,000 after acquiring an additional 161 shares in the last quarter. BTC Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 29.0% in the 3rd quarter. BTC Capital Management Inc. now owns 16,152 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $3,303,000 after purchasing an additional 3,635 shares in the last quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board grew its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 12.8% in the 3rd quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 4,806 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $983,000 after purchasing an additional 544 shares during the last quarter. Leuthold Group LLC increased its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. Leuthold Group LLC now owns 18,698 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $3,823,000 after purchasing an additional 629 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Caprock Group LLC bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter valued at about $897,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Universal Health Services stock opened at $230.85 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. The company has a market cap of $14.42 billion, a PE ratio of 10.97, a PEG ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 1.26. The company’s 50-day moving average is $216.28 and its two-hundred day moving average is $209.17. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1 year low of $152.33 and a 1 year high of $246.32.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be paid a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 2nd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.3%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is 3.80%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have weighed in on the stock. UBS Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Guggenheim boosted their target price on Universal Health Services from $253.00 to $274.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Morgan Stanley set a $233.00 price target on Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Barclays reduced their price objective on Universal Health Services from $263.00 to $262.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note 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 given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $234.13.

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.