Rhenman & Partners Asset Management AB Boosts Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Rhenman & Partners Asset Management AB lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 286.3% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 30,900 shares of the health services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 22,900 shares during the period. Rhenman & Partners Asset Management AB’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $5,544,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Choreo LLC raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.4% in the 4th quarter. Choreo LLC now owns 1,822 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $325,000 after buying an additional 60 shares during the period. Quarry LP lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 14.4% during 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 in the last quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. increased its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 2.2% in the fourth quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 3,060 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $549,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. LRI Investments LLC raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 18.1% in the 3rd quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 456 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $104,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares during the period. Finally, Platinum Investment Management Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 17.6% during 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. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently commented on UHS shares. Barclays dropped their target price on Universal Health Services from $271.00 to $249.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 10th. Morgan Stanley began 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 target on the stock. Finally, Stephens boosted 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 research report on Friday, February 28th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $228.38.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total transaction of $179,160.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 7,916 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,418,230.56. This trade represents a 11.22 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 16.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of UHS opened at $174.69 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $11.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.62, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.21. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $181.75 and a 200 day moving average price of $195.82. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12 month low of $152.69 and a 12 month 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.

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

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

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

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.