JPMorgan Chase & Co. Purchases 10,578 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,197,537 shares of the health services provider’s stock after buying an additional 10,578 shares during the quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. owned 1.82% of Universal Health Services worth $274,248,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Van ECK Associates Corp raised 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 acquiring an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. Empirical Finance LLC increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 1.1% in the third quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 5,704 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $1,306,000 after purchasing an additional 64 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE raised its position in Universal Health Services by 3.0% during the 3rd quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,238 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $512,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 14.4% during the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 516 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $118,000 after buying an additional 65 shares during the period. Finally, Mather Group LLC. grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 31.6% in the 3rd quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 283 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $65,000 after buying an additional 68 shares during the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 0.4 %

UHS stock opened at $180.46 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.39. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $150.11 and a fifty-two week high of $243.25. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $199.26 and its 200 day simple moving average is $207.92. The company has a market cap of $11.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.60 and a beta of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.75 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.90 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. Universal Health Services’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.55 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd were issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.44%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 5.32%.

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

In related news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total transaction of $308,516.10. Following the transaction, the director now owns 5,879 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,123,770.85. The trade was a 21.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UHS has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Bank of America assumed coverage on Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com lowered shares of Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, November 9th. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. KeyCorp started coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Friday, October 11th. They set a “sector weight” rating for the company. Finally, Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $236.00 to $274.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 4th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target 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.