Atlas Capital Advisors Inc. Sells 1,916 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Atlas Capital Advisors Inc. trimmed its position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 43.9% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 2,451 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 1,916 shares during the quarter. Atlas Capital Advisors Inc.’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $440,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Choreo LLC increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 3.4% during the 4th quarter. Choreo LLC now owns 1,822 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $325,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 14.4% in the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 516 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $118,000 after buying an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 3,060 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $549,000 after buying an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. LRI Investments LLC grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 18.1% during the 3rd quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 456 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $104,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Platinum Investment Management Ltd. increased its position in Universal Health Services by 17.6% in the 4th quarter. Platinum Investment Management Ltd. now owns 488 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $88,000 after acquiring an additional 73 shares in the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 7.4 %

NYSE UHS opened at $174.69 on Friday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a one year low of $152.69 and a one year high of $243.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28. The firm has a market cap of $11.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.62, a P/E/G ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.21. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $181.75 and its 200-day moving average is $195.82.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.21 by $0.71. The firm had revenue of $4.11 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.01 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd were paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.46%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 3rd. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is presently 4.75%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently commented on UHS shares. The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and decreased their price target for the company from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated a “neutral” rating and set a $226.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday, December 17th. Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Morgan Stanley started coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, March 26th. They issued an “equal weight” rating and a $200.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Stephens lifted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, February 28th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $228.38.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total value of $179,160.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 7,916 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,418,230.56. The trade was a 11.22 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

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.