ProShare Advisors LLC Cuts Stock Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

ProShare Advisors LLC lessened its position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 42.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 16,603 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 12,047 shares during the quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $2,979,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. First Eagle Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 1.0% in the fourth quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 4,675,182 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $838,821,000 after acquiring an additional 44,099 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.1% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,713,572 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $306,776,000 after purchasing an additional 52,042 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. boosted its stake in Universal Health Services by 25.6% in the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,241,340 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $222,721,000 after purchasing an additional 253,385 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its position in 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 worth $274,248,000 after purchasing an additional 10,578 shares during the last quarter. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. grew its position in Universal Health Services by 4.7% during the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 624,143 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $111,984,000 after purchasing an additional 27,903 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,097 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.48, for a total value of $210,053.56. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 7,884 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,509,628.32. The trade was a 12.21% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 16.40% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have issued reports on UHS. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $249.00 to $257.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 29th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on Universal Health Services from $211.00 to $201.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. Guggenheim started coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. They set a “buy” rating and a $208.00 price target on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald raised Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Baird R W downgraded Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $224.77.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 0.7%

Universal Health Services stock opened at $195.44 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $12.70 billion, a PE ratio of 12.99, a P/E/G ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.29. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12 month low of $153.99 and a 12 month high of $243.25. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $179.95 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $185.24. 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 posted its earnings results on Monday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $4.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.36 by $0.48. The firm had revenue of $4.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.16 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The business’s revenue was up 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $3.70 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

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

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.