C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. Cuts Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. lowered its holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 71.9% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 540 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 1,380 shares during the quarter. C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd.’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $97,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in UHS. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 22.5% in the fourth quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 54,105 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $9,721,000 after purchasing an additional 9,946 shares during the period. Savant Capital LLC lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 255.3% during the 4th quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 6,345 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $1,138,000 after acquiring an additional 4,559 shares during the period. Abacus Planning Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 175.6% during the 4th quarter. Abacus Planning Group Inc. now owns 2,792 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $501,000 after acquiring an additional 1,779 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,197,537 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $274,248,000 after acquiring an additional 10,578 shares during the period. Finally, Vestcor Inc increased its stake in Universal Health Services by 1,436.5% in the 3rd quarter. Vestcor Inc now owns 54,070 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $12,383,000 after purchasing an additional 50,551 shares in the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Universal Health Services stock opened at $186.11 on Monday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $181.91 and a 200 day moving average price of $196.96. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52 week low of $152.69 and a 52 week high of $243.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.37, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.32. 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) last released its earnings results 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 business had revenue of $4.11 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.01 billion. Equities research 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. 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 was Monday, March 3rd. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is currently 4.75%.

Insider Activity

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total value of $179,160.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 7,916 shares in the company, valued at $1,418,230.56. The trade was a 11.22 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have commented on UHS. Barclays decreased their target price on Universal Health Services from $271.00 to $249.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their target price for the stock from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, March 10th. Finally, Stephens lifted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $228.38.

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.