BNP Paribas Financial Markets Boosts Stock Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 29.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 129,631 shares of the health services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 29,689 shares during the quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets’ holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $28,262,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. American Century Companies Inc. grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 22.1% during the 3rd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 781,145 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $159,698,000 after purchasing an additional 141,621 shares during the last quarter. AMG National Trust Bank purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,912,000. BTC Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 161.3% during the 4th quarter. BTC Capital Management Inc. now owns 42,199 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $9,203,000 after purchasing an additional 26,047 shares during the last quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 310.2% during the 3rd quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 1,607,029 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $328,541,000 after purchasing an additional 1,215,286 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Invenomic Capital Management LP grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 174.1% during the 3rd quarter. Invenomic Capital Management LP now owns 73,266 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $14,979,000 after purchasing an additional 46,535 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have weighed in on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price target on Universal Health Services from $261.00 to $230.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. Guggenheim decreased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $238.00 to $211.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. UBS Group reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Friday, May 29th. Stephens decreased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $235.00 to $205.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald decreased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $229.00 to $194.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $218.63.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of UHS stock opened at $142.58 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $8.63 billion, a PE ratio of 5.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 1.07. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $170.51 and a 200-day simple moving average of $199.72. The company has a quick ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52-week low of $140.76 and a 52-week high of $246.32.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $5.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.41 by $0.21. The business had revenue of $4.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.39 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.57% and a net margin of 8.56%.The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $4.84 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 23.47 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 18th. Investors of record on Monday, June 8th will be issued a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 8th. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is presently 3.33%.

About Universal Health Services

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.