97,500 Shares in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Acquired by Renaissance Technologies LLC

Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 97,500 shares of the health services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $18,031,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC owned approximately 0.15% of Universal Health Services at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Van ECK Associates Corp increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 4.2% in the second quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 1,160 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $215,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares during the period. LRI Investments LLC increased its stake in Universal Health Services by 19.5% in the 2nd quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 386 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $71,000 after acquiring an additional 63 shares during the last quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Universal Health Services by 11.4% in the 1st quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC now owns 624 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $114,000 after acquiring an additional 64 shares during the last quarter. Empirical Finance LLC raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 2,455 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $448,000 after acquiring an additional 73 shares in the last quarter. Finally, O Neil Global Advisors Inc. boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 6.7% during the 2nd quarter. O Neil Global Advisors Inc. now owns 1,175 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $217,000 after acquiring an additional 74 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have commented on UHS. Baird R W raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 26th. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on Universal Health Services from $236.00 to $274.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th. Stephens reaffirmed an “equal weight” rating and set a $200.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Thursday, July 25th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on Universal Health Services from $189.00 to $222.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a report on Monday, September 9th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $224.92.

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

In related news, EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $210.85, for a total value of $3,192,479.85. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,253 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,107,595.05. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $217.64, for a total transaction of $749,552.16. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 3,971 shares in the company, valued at $864,248.44. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $210.85, for a total value of $3,192,479.85. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,253 shares in the company, valued at $1,107,595.05. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 21,970 shares of company stock valued at $4,653,535 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

NYSE:UHS opened at $238.02 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a current ratio of 1.28. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $219.28 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $192.34. The firm has a market capitalization of $15.93 billion, a PE ratio of 20.17, a P/E/G ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.28. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52-week low of $119.90 and a 52-week high of $241.95.

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

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd were given a dividend of $0.20 per share. 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 payout ratio is 6.78%.

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

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.