Van ECK Associates Corp Raises Stock Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 274.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,342 shares of the health services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 3,182 shares during the quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $1,017,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Financial Management Professionals Inc. purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services in the third quarter worth approximately $32,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its position in 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 last quarter. Innealta Capital LLC bought a new stake in Universal Health Services in the second quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, LRI Investments LLC bought a new stake in Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 0.5 %

UHS opened at $208.56 on Tuesday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $223.83 and a 200-day moving average price of $204.65. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12 month low of $129.34 and a 12 month high of $243.25. The firm has a market cap of $13.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.87, a PEG ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.75 by ($0.04). Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The company had revenue of $3.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.90 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.55 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services declared that its board has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, July 24th that permits the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the health services provider to repurchase up to 8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are generally an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UHS has been the subject of several recent research reports. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $247.00 to $267.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. StockNews.com downgraded Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday. Barclays upped their target price on Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. Bank of America started coverage on Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 target price for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $231.14.

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.