Retirement Systems of Alabama Sells 271 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Retirement Systems of Alabama decreased its position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 2.1% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 12,713 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 271 shares during the quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $2,281,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Financial Management Professionals Inc. bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the third quarter valued at approximately $32,000. R Squared Ltd bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. True Wealth Design LLC bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the third quarter worth $39,000. Huntington National Bank increased its position in Universal Health Services by 414.3% during the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $41,000 after acquiring an additional 145 shares during the period. Finally, Sentry Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the third quarter worth $64,000. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UHS has been the topic of a number of research reports. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 25th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, October 25th. TD Cowen decreased their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, November 26th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, November 9th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $226.14.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was 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 directly owns 5,879 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,123,770.85. The trade was a 21.54 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 16.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of NYSE UHS opened at $185.93 on Wednesday. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $185.93 and its 200 day simple moving average is $207.89. The company has a market cap of $12.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12-month low of $152.68 and a 12-month high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 3rd were given a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 3rd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.43%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 5.32%.

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.