Empowered Funds LLC Buys 21,622 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Empowered Funds LLC lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 88.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 46,091 shares of the health services provider’s stock after buying an additional 21,622 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC owned about 0.07% of Universal Health Services worth $8,270,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Apollon Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 15.8% in the 4th quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,294 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $232,000 after purchasing an additional 177 shares in the last quarter. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt grew its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 7,175.0% during the fourth quarter. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt now owns 29,100 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $5,221,000 after purchasing an additional 28,700 shares during the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd increased its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 2.5% in the fourth quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 7,253 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $1,301,000 after buying an additional 177 shares during the period. Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC bought a new position in Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $504,000. Finally, Caitlin John LLC boosted its position in Universal Health Services by 4.9% during the 4th quarter. Caitlin John LLC now owns 11,140 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $1,999,000 after buying an additional 525 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have issued reports on UHS. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 25th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $222.00 to $211.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 28th. Bank of America assumed coverage on Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 target price on the stock. TD Cowen decreased their price target on Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, November 26th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, November 9th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $226.14.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total transaction of $308,516.10. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 5,879 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,123,770.85. The trade was a 21.54 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 16.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 0.2 %

UHS opened at $188.01 on Monday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $186.50 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $208.22. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $152.68 and a 1-year high of $243.25. The company has a market cap of $12.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 1.30. 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 Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 3rd were given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.43%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 3rd. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is 5.32%.

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.