Russell Investments Group Ltd. Increases Stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Russell Investments Group Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 14.2% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 74,240 shares of the health services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 9,221 shares during the quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. owned 0.11% of Universal Health Services worth $11,317,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of UHS. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in Universal Health Services by 42.8% during the third quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 267 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 80 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC purchased a new position in Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Platinum Investment Management Ltd. raised its position in Universal Health Services by 16.9% during the third quarter. Platinum Investment Management Ltd. now owns 727 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $91,000 after acquiring an additional 105 shares in the last quarter. Tompkins Financial Corp purchased a new position in Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $96,000. Finally, Van ECK Associates Corp raised its position in Universal Health Services by 9.6% during the third quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 1,004 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $126,000 after acquiring an additional 88 shares in the last quarter. 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, CFO Steve Filton sold 35,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, March 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $176.82, for a total transaction of $6,188,700.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 68,785 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $12,162,563.70. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently weighed in on UHS shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price target on Universal Health Services from $208.00 to $203.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 12th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $170.00 to $193.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. Mizuho boosted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $175.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 6th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an “underweight” rating and issued a $156.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, April 10th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $170.00 to $189.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, March 4th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Universal Health Services has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $182.79.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 1.3 %

Shares of UHS opened at $167.70 on Monday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $171.24 and a 200 day moving average price of $155.03. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.21, a PEG ratio of 0.84 and a beta of 1.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.38. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a one year low of $119.90 and a one year high of $183.61.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 24th. The health services provider reported $3.70 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.14 by $0.56. The company had revenue of $3.84 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.78 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 13.34% and a net margin of 5.57%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.34 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 13.51 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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.