Gateway Investment Advisers LLC Lowers Stock Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Gateway Investment Advisers LLC lessened its position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 0.3% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 47,337 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 149 shares during the quarter. Gateway Investment Advisers LLC owned about 0.07% of Universal Health Services worth $8,754,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in UHS. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Mather Group LLC. purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Denali Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 1.5 %

UHS stock traded down $3.18 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $215.22. 502,479 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 662,942. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $192.45 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $178.00. The company has a current ratio of 1.28, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.40 billion, a PE ratio of 18.24, a P/E/G ratio of 0.70 and a beta of 1.28. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $119.90 and a 1-year high of $219.61.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 24th. The health services provider reported $4.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.37 by $0.94. The firm had revenue of $3.91 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.87 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 6.22%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.53 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.96 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock buyback program on Wednesday, July 24th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the health services provider to buy up to 8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 3rd will be issued a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 3rd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.37%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is presently 6.78%.

Insider Activity at Universal Health Services

In related news, EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $210.85, for a total value of $3,192,479.85. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 5,253 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,107,595.05. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, Director Eileen C. Mcdonnell sold 2,535 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $209.55, for a total value of $531,209.25. Following the sale, the director now owns 6,413 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,343,844.15. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $210.85, for a total value of $3,192,479.85. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 5,253 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,107,595.05. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 18,526 shares of company stock worth $3,903,983. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $229.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 30th. Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded Universal Health Services from an “underweight” rating to a “neutral” rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $162.00 to $219.00 in a research report on Friday, July 26th. UBS Group upgraded Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $189.00 to $226.00 in a research report on Monday, May 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $182.00 to $186.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 30th. Finally, Baird R W upgraded Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 26th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $216.31.

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.