Magnetar Financial LLC Grows Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Magnetar Financial LLC lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 1,883.3% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 26,755 shares of the health services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 25,406 shares during the period. Magnetar Financial LLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $4,800,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of UHS. R Squared Ltd acquired a new position in Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Quent Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 118.3% during the 4th quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 179 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter valued at $39,000. Huntington National Bank boosted its position in Universal Health Services by 414.3% during the 3rd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares during the period. Finally, Campbell Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter valued at $46,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Universal Health Services

In related news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total value of $179,160.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 7,916 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,418,230.56. This represents a 11.22 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 16.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on UHS shares. Barclays decreased their target price on Universal Health Services from $271.00 to $249.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, March 10th. TD Cowen dropped their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, November 26th. Stephens upped their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $226.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. Six 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. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $230.75.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of UHS opened at $178.13 on Thursday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $182.25 and a 200-day moving average of $199.68. The company has a market cap of $11.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.39. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1 year low of $152.69 and a 1 year high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates 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 during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.01 billion. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors 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 0.45%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) 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.