Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Holdings Decreased by California State Teachers Retirement System

California State Teachers Retirement System reduced its position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 18.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 70,787 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 15,724 shares during the period. California State Teachers Retirement System’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $12,701,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. R Squared Ltd bought a new stake in Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter valued at $29,000. Quent Capital LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 118.3% in the 4th quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 179 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 97 shares during the period. Campbell Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter valued at about $46,000. Huntington National Bank raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 55.6% during the fourth quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 280 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $50,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the period. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 30.7% during the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 455 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $81,000 after acquiring an additional 107 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,097 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction 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 directly owns 7,884 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,509,628.32. This trade represents a 12.21% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 16.40% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UHS has been the subject of a number of research reports. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on 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. Stephens raised their price target on Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, February 28th. Barclays boosted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $249.00 to $257.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 29th. Guggenheim assumed coverage on Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $208.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley began coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, March 26th. They issued an “equal weight” rating and a $200.00 target price on the stock. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $224.77.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 0.4%

Shares of UHS stock opened at $190.32 on Friday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1 year low of $153.99 and a 1 year high of $243.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.37 billion, a PE ratio of 12.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.29. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $181.86 and a two-hundred day moving average of $184.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.39.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $4.84 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.36 by $0.48. The business had revenue of $4.10 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.16 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $3.70 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 2nd will be paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.42%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 2nd. Universal Health Services’s dividend 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.