Meeder Asset Management Inc. Sells 12,678 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Meeder Asset Management Inc. lowered its position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 96.9% in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 409 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 12,678 shares during the period. Meeder Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $73,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in UHS. R Squared Ltd bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Quent Capital LLC boosted its stake in Universal Health Services by 118.3% in the fourth 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 during the last quarter. Campbell Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth $46,000. Sunbelt Securities Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter valued at $69,000. Finally, Board of the Pension Protection Fund bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter valued at $72,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Stephens lifted their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th. 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 for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. 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 note on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $226.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $228.38.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the business’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. The trade was 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. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of UHS stock opened at $187.53 on Wednesday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52-week low of $152.69 and a 52-week high of $243.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.39. The stock has a market cap of $12.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.47, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.32. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $181.95 and its 200-day moving average is $196.34.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings data 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 return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The company had revenue of $4.11 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.01 billion. Sell-side analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 3rd were given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.43%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 3rd. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is 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.