By otakuyassine3@gmail.com 
PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS – Free Report) by 5.8% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 9,015 shares of the health services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 497 shares during the quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc.’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $1,617,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. R Squared Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Quent Capital LLC raised its stake 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 worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter valued at about $39,000. Huntington National Bank grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 414.3% in the 3rd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 145 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. acquired a new position in Universal Health Services in the third quarter worth approximately $69,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
A number of analysts have issued reports on UHS shares. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, March 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $226.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday, December 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Barclays lowered their price objective on Universal Health Services from $271.00 to $249.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $230.75.
Check Out Our Latest Report on Universal Health Services
Universal Health Services Trading Up 2.3 %
Shares of UHS stock opened at $167.83 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.32. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1 year low of $152.68 and a 1 year high of $243.25. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $182.83 and its 200 day simple moving average is $200.95. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.
Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 earnings per share (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 company had revenue of $4.11 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.01 billion. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 EPS for the current year.
Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd will be given a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.48%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 4.75%.
Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services
In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total transaction of $179,160.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 7,916 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,418,230.56. This trade represents a 11.22 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 16.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.
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.
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