Allstate Corp Takes Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Allstate Corp acquired a new position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm acquired 1,736 shares of the health services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $311,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. R Squared Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Quent Capital LLC lifted its stake in Universal Health Services by 118.3% in the 4th quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 179 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. Campbell Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth about $46,000. Sunbelt Securities Inc. purchased a new position in Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter valued at about $69,000. Finally, Board of the Pension Protection Fund acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter valued at about $72,000. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently commented on the stock. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $271.00 to $249.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Stephens boosted their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, February 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $228.00 to $198.00 in a report on Monday, December 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $226.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald raised Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Seven equities research 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 company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $228.38.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 0.7 %

Shares of UHS stock opened at $189.09 on Thursday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12 month low of $152.69 and a 12 month high of $243.25. The company has a market cap of $12.29 billion, a PE ratio of 12.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.32. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The business’s 50 day moving average is $182.00 and its two-hundred day moving average is $196.29.

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. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The firm had revenue of $4.11 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.01 billion. Equities analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd were issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.42%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 4.75%.

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.