MQS Management LLC Buys Shares of 1,111 Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

MQS Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 1,111 shares of the health services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $205,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. XTX Topco Ltd bought a new stake in Universal Health Services in the second quarter worth $276,000. Hsbc Holdings PLC lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 1.4% in the second quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 159,277 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $29,457,000 after buying an additional 2,122 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 23.9% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 8,900 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $1,646,000 after acquiring an additional 1,718 shares in the last quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 24.6% during 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 last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $18,031,000. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have commented on UHS shares. Barclays upgraded Universal Health Services from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and increased their price target for the company from $198.00 to $256.00 in a report on Friday, July 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $229.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 30th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $189.00 to $222.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Monday, September 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $182.00 to $186.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 30th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $255.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. Five investment 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 stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $224.92.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 0.1 %

Shares of Universal Health Services stock opened at $238.02 on Friday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52-week low of $119.90 and a 52-week high of $241.95. The firm has a market capitalization of $15.93 billion, a PE ratio of 20.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.28 and a quick ratio of 1.17. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $219.28 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $192.34.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The health services provider reported $4.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.37 by $0.94. The firm had revenue of $3.91 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.87 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.22% and a return on equity of 14.91%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.53 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.91 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

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

Universal Health Services declared that its board has initiated a share buyback 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 purchase up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically a sign that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Eileen C. Mcdonnell sold 2,535 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction 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 sale, the director now owns 6,413 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,343,844.15. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Universal Health Services news, EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction on Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $210.85, for a total value of $3,192,479.85. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 5,253 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,107,595.05. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Eileen C. Mcdonnell sold 2,535 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $209.55, for a total value of $531,209.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,413 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,343,844.15. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 21,970 shares of company stock worth $4,653,535 over the last three months. Company insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

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.