Man Group plc Boosts Stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Man Group plc lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 307.5% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 178,648 shares of the health services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 134,810 shares during the period. Man Group plc’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $32,053,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its position in Universal Health Services by 22.5% during 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 in the last quarter. Savant Capital LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 255.3% in the 4th quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 6,345 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $1,138,000 after purchasing an additional 4,559 shares in the last quarter. Abacus Planning Group Inc. increased its position 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 valued at $501,000 after purchasing an additional 1,779 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,197,537 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $274,248,000 after buying an additional 10,578 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Empirical Finance LLC lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 43.3% in the 4th quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 8,176 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $1,467,000 after buying an additional 2,472 shares during the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 4.4%

NYSE UHS opened at $196.12 on Friday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1 year low of $153.99 and a 1 year high of $243.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.75 billion, a PE ratio of 13.04, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28. The business’s 50-day moving average is $178.19 and its 200 day moving average is $185.57.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $4.84 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.36 by $0.48. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The firm had revenue of $4.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.16 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.70 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 2nd. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is currently 4.49%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,097 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.48, for a total transaction of $210,053.56. Following the transaction, the director now owns 7,884 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,509,628.32. This represents a 12.21% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 16.40% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have commented on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, March 10th. Morgan Stanley started coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, March 26th. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $200.00 target price on the stock. Stephens boosted their price target 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. Finally, Guggenheim began coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. They set a “buy” rating and a $208.00 price target for the company. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Universal Health Services presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $224.77.

Universal Health Services 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.