Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Shares Sold by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board reduced its position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 45.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 94,400 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 79,500 shares during the period. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board owned 0.14% of Universal Health Services worth $17,457,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth approximately $86,117,000. Corient Private Wealth LLC increased its stake in Universal Health Services by 46.8% during the fourth quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 6,252 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $953,000 after acquiring an additional 1,994 shares during the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. raised its position in Universal Health Services by 75.9% in the fourth quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 11,935 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $1,819,000 after purchasing an additional 5,149 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 17.0% in the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 20,385 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $3,107,000 after purchasing an additional 2,965 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Commerce Bank grew its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 13.9% during the 4th quarter. Commerce Bank now owns 6,129 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $934,000 after purchasing an additional 746 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of UHS opened at $238.02 on Monday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1 year low of $119.90 and a 1 year high of $241.95. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.93 billion, a PE ratio of 20.17, a PEG ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a current ratio of 1.28. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $219.28 and a 200-day simple moving average of $192.45.

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

Universal Health Services announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share buyback plan on Wednesday, July 24th that permits the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the health services provider to buy up to 8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are usually an indication that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 3rd were issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a 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 Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $217.64, for a total transaction of $749,552.16. Following the sale, the director now owns 3,971 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $864,248.44. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Universal Health Services news, EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, July 26th. The shares were 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 $1,107,595.05. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $217.64, for a total value of $749,552.16. Following the sale, the director now owns 3,971 shares in the company, valued at approximately $864,248.44. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 21,970 shares of company stock worth $4,653,535 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have commented on UHS. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $229.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 30th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 17th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $219.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Monday, August 19th. Barclays raised Universal Health Services from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and boosted their target price for the company from $198.00 to $256.00 in a research report on Friday, July 26th. Finally, UBS Group raised their price target on Universal Health Services from $247.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $224.92.

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.