Vinva Investment Management Ltd Lowers Stock Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Vinva Investment Management Ltd trimmed its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 37.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 32,612 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 19,486 shares during the period. Vinva Investment Management Ltd’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $5,817,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. R Squared Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Quent Capital LLC increased its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 118.3% during the fourth quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 179 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the third quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Huntington National Bank increased its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 414.3% during the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 145 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Campbell Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $46,000. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently weighed in on UHS. Cantor Fitzgerald raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $226.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday, December 17th. Barclays cut their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $271.00 to $249.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their target price for the stock from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Finally, Stephens lifted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Universal Health Services presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $230.75.

Insider Activity at Universal Health Services

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total value of $179,160.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 7,916 shares in the company, valued at $1,418,230.56. The trade was a 11.22 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 16.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 0.9 %

UHS opened at $176.22 on Wednesday. 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, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $152.69 and a fifty-two week high of $243.25. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $182.50 and its 200 day moving average is $199.83. The stock has a market cap of $11.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.32.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.21 by $0.71. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The company had revenue of $4.11 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.01 billion. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.45%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 4.75%.

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.