Principal Financial Group Inc. Sells 5,977 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Principal Financial Group Inc. decreased its position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 5.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 94,979 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 5,977 shares during the quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned about 0.14% of Universal Health Services worth $17,041,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. State Street Corp grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,724,075 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $623,840,000 after buying an additional 17,527 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 4.0% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,661,530 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $379,403,000 after acquiring an additional 63,754 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 0.9% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,197,537 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $274,248,000 after acquiring an additional 10,578 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in Universal Health Services by 1.9% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 603,705 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $138,254,000 after acquiring an additional 11,353 shares during the period. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC increased its position in Universal Health Services by 13.5% during the third quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 346,969 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $79,459,000 after acquiring an additional 41,218 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

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

Universal Health Services Stock Up 4.3 %

Shares of NYSE:UHS opened at $189.30 on Wednesday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52-week low of $152.68 and a 52-week high of $243.25. The company has a market capitalization of $12.49 billion, a PE ratio of 12.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.39. The company has a fifty day moving average of $184.35 and a 200-day moving average of $205.64.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd will be issued a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.42%. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is presently 5.32%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UHS has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. TD Cowen cut their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their target price for the company from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Bank of America started coverage on Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 price target on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, November 9th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average 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.