Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Shares Sold by Vanguard Group Inc.

Vanguard Group Inc. lowered its position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 1.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,080,303 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 73,039 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. owned about 10.73% of Universal Health Services worth $1,270,348,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. First Eagle Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in Universal Health Services by 1.0% during the fourth quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 4,675,182 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $838,821,000 after purchasing an additional 44,099 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,724,075 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $623,840,000 after buying an additional 17,527 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 4.0% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,661,530 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $379,403,000 after buying an additional 63,754 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,197,537 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $274,248,000 after buying an additional 10,578 shares during the period. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 4.7% during the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 624,143 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $111,984,000 after buying an additional 27,903 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total value of $179,160.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 7,916 shares in the company, valued at $1,418,230.56. This represents a 11.22 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have commented on UHS. Stephens lifted their target price on Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Morgan Stanley began coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $200.00 price objective for the company. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, March 10th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Barclays reduced their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $271.00 to $249.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $228.38.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 1.0 %

UHS stock opened at $186.27 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $12.11 billion, a PE ratio of 12.39, a P/E/G ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.32. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12 month low of $152.69 and a 12 month high of $243.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $181.89 and a 200 day simple moving average of $197.67.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.21 by $0.71. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The company had revenue of $4.11 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.01 billion. Equities research analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd were given a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.43%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 4.75%.

About Universal Health Services

Universal Health Services, Inc, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates acute care hospitals, and outpatient and behavioral health care facilities. It operates through Acute Care Hospital Services and Behavioral Health Care Services segments. The company's hospitals offer general and specialty surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics, emergency room care, radiology, oncology, diagnostic and coronary care, pediatric services, pharmacy services, and/or behavioral health services.