VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al Sells 79,700 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al lessened its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 16.5% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 402,622 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 79,700 shares during the quarter. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al owned approximately 0.63% of Universal Health Services worth $82,312,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Universal Health Services during the 2nd quarter valued at $83,333,000. Nomura Holdings Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 100.6% during the 2nd quarter. Nomura Holdings Inc. now owns 2,560 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $464,000 after purchasing an additional 426,211 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 57.8% during the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 931,355 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $173,381,000 after purchasing an additional 340,966 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. increased its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 11.1% during the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,461,198 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $264,696,000 after buying an additional 145,730 shares during the period. Finally, Amundi raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 50.2% in the second quarter. Amundi now owns 403,237 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $74,385,000 after buying an additional 134,757 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 0.5%

NYSE:UHS opened at $224.98 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 1.03. The firm has a market cap of $14.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.69, a P/E/G ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.27. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $152.33 and a fifty-two week high of $246.32. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $226.67 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $198.75.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The health services provider reported $5.69 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.66 by $1.03. The firm had revenue of $4.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.32 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 8.09% and a return on equity of 19.47%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 13.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $3.71 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 1st were issued a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 1st. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.4%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 3.80%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In related news, Director Elliot J. Md Mba Sussman sold 965 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $225.70, for a total value of $217,800.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 6,113 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,379,704.10. This trade represents a 13.63% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,817 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $223.30, for a total value of $852,336.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 8,481 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,893,807.30. This trade represents a 31.04% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 16.40% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Universal Health Services from $249.00 to $259.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. Barclays upped their price target on Universal Health Services from $250.00 to $263.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 28th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued a “sector perform” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, October 11th. Finally, Zacks Research raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, October 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $234.14.

Universal Health Services Company Profile

Universal Health Services, Inc (NYSE: UHS) is one of the largest diversified health care management companies in the United States, offering a broad spectrum of services through its acute care hospital and behavioral health segments. The company operates general acute care hospitals, surgical hospitals and ambulatory centers, as well as inpatient and outpatient behavioral health facilities. Its network provides emergency and specialized medicine, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, advanced surgical care and rehabilitation, complemented by a comprehensive array of behavioral services including psychiatric treatment, addiction programs and developmental disabilities care.

In the acute care segment, UHS’s facilities deliver services ranging from emergency department treatment and intensive care to maternity care and outpatient surgery.