Dimensional Fund Advisors LP Sells 37,652 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP cut its stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 2.6% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,387,874 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 37,652 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned 2.07% of Universal Health Services worth $256,698,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth approximately $86,117,000. Corient Private Wealth LLC grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 46.8% during the 4th quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 6,252 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $953,000 after buying an additional 1,994 shares during the period. Quest Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth approximately $536,000. Assetmark Inc. grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 75.9% during the 4th quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 11,935 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $1,819,000 after buying an additional 5,149 shares during the period. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 17.0% during the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 20,385 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $3,107,000 after buying an additional 2,965 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of UHS opened at $234.69 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a current ratio of 1.28. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a twelve month low of $119.90 and a twelve month high of $241.95. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $216.04 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $191.16. The firm has a market cap of $15.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.89, a PEG ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 24th. The health services provider reported $4.31 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.37 by $0.94. The business had revenue of $3.91 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.87 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.22% and a return on equity of 14.91%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.53 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.91 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services announced that its board has initiated a stock buyback program on Wednesday, July 24th that permits the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the health services provider to repurchase up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are usually a sign that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd were given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.34%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is presently 6.78%.

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Nina Chen-Langenmayr sold 850 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $212.11, for a total value of $180,293.50. Following the sale, the director now owns 1,985 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $421,038.35. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Universal Health Services news, Director Nina Chen-Langenmayr sold 850 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $212.11, for a total transaction of $180,293.50. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 1,985 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $421,038.35. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $217.64, for a total transaction of $749,552.16. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 3,971 shares in the company, valued at $864,248.44. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 21,970 shares of company stock valued at $4,653,535 over the last 90 days. 16.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UHS has been the subject of several analyst reports. Stephens reiterated an “equal weight” rating and set a $200.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Thursday, July 25th. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $183.00 to $220.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, July 26th. Barclays upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $198.00 to $256.00 in a report on Friday, July 26th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $189.00 to $222.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Monday, September 9th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $182.00 to $186.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, May 30th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $224.92.

Universal Health Services Company Profile

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.