Texas Permanent School Fund Corp Has $1.77 Million Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Texas Permanent School Fund Corp lowered its position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 24.1% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 9,567 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 3,044 shares during the period. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $1,769,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Blue Trust Inc. raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 1,284.6% in the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares during the period. Innealta Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the second quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Mather Group LLC. bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 1.0 %

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

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

Universal Health Services declared that its board has initiated a share buyback plan on Wednesday, July 24th that allows the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the health services provider to purchase up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically a sign that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

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

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $210.85, for a total value of $3,192,479.85. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 5,253 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,107,595.05. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $210.85, for a total value of $3,192,479.85. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 5,253 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,107,595.05. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Eileen C. Mcdonnell sold 2,535 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.55, for a total transaction of $531,209.25. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 6,413 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,343,844.15. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 21,970 shares of company stock worth $4,653,535. Corporate insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UHS has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $247.00 to $267.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $182.00 to $186.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 30th. Stephens restated an “equal weight” rating and issued a $200.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Thursday, July 25th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $219.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Monday, August 19th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $224.92.

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.