Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Shares Acquired by Park Avenue Securities LLC

Park Avenue Securities LLC raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 63.7% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,884 shares of the health services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,122 shares during the period. Park Avenue Securities LLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $517,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV increased its position in Universal Health Services by 24.6% in the 2nd quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 4,236 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $783,000 after acquiring an additional 837 shares during the period. XTX Topco Ltd bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the second quarter worth $276,000. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 41.8% during the second quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 251 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $46,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares during the period. Pacer Advisors Inc. raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 42.5% during the second quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 5,967 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $1,103,000 after purchasing an additional 1,779 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ProShare Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 107.3% in the second quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 22,284 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $4,121,000 after purchasing an additional 11,532 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 1.6 %

UHS stock opened at $190.09 on Friday. 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 market capitalization of $12.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.64, a P/E/G ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 1.30. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52-week low of $150.11 and a 52-week high of $243.25. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $188.97 and its 200-day simple moving average is $207.34.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.75 by ($0.04). The business had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.90 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. Universal Health Services’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.55 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 3rd were paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 5.32%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total transaction of $308,516.10. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 5,879 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,123,770.85. This trade represents a 21.54 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have commented on UHS shares. The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their target price for the company from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Bank of America began coverage on Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 target price on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $219.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Friday, October 25th. KeyCorp began coverage on Universal Health Services in a report on Friday, October 11th. They issued a “sector weight” rating for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 25th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $226.14.

Universal Health Services 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.