Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC Buys 1,718 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC raised its stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 23.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 8,900 shares of the health services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,718 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $1,646,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Van ECK Associates Corp grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 4.2% during the second quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 1,160 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $215,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. LRI Investments LLC boosted its position 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 valued at $71,000 after buying an additional 63 shares during the last quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of 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 valued at $114,000 after buying an additional 64 shares during the period. Empirical Finance LLC raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.1% during the first quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 2,455 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $448,000 after acquiring an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Finally, O Neil Global Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 6.7% during the second 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 period. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

UHS stock opened at $238.02 on Friday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $119.90 and a 1-year high of $241.95. The company has a current ratio of 1.28, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The firm has a market cap of $15.93 billion, a PE ratio of 20.17, a P/E/G ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.28. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $219.28 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $192.34.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The health services provider reported $4.31 EPS for the quarter, topping 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 for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.87 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.53 earnings per share. Universal Health Services’s revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.91 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services declared that its board has authorized a share repurchase plan on Wednesday, July 24th that allows the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the health services provider to reacquire up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are usually an indication that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd were issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.34%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 6.78%.

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

In related news, Director Nina Chen-Langenmayr sold 850 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $212.11, for a total value of $180,293.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 1,985 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $421,038.35. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, Director Nina Chen-Langenmayr sold 850 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.11, for a total value of $180,293.50. Following the sale, the director now owns 1,985 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $421,038.35. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Eileen C. Mcdonnell sold 2,535 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.55, for a total value of $531,209.25. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 6,413 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,343,844.15. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 21,970 shares of company stock valued at $4,653,535 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently commented on UHS shares. Stephens reiterated an “equal weight” rating and issued a $200.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Thursday, July 25th. Barclays upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $198.00 to $256.00 in a research report on Friday, July 26th. StockNews.com raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 17th. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $219.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Monday, August 19th. Finally, TD Cowen upped their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $183.00 to $220.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, July 26th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Universal Health Services presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $224.92.

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.