Uncommon Cents Investing LLC Takes Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Uncommon Cents Investing LLC bought a new stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm bought 3,450 shares of the health services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $526,000.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bessemer Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 76.4% in the 4th quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 187 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 81 shares during the period. Belpointe Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 45.4% in the 1st quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 253 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 79 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 42.8% in the 3rd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 267 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 80 shares during the period. PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc. bought a new position in Universal Health Services in the 2nd quarter valued at about $46,000. Finally, Ancora Advisors LLC lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 33.3% in the 1st quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 400 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $53,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CFO Steve Filton sold 35,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $176.82, for a total value of $6,188,700.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 68,785 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $12,162,563.70. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 15.40% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on UHS shares. UBS Group raised their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $152.00 to $177.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. StockNews.com raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, January 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $170.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, March 4th. Cantor Fitzgerald lifted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $148.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $170.00 to $193.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $176.29.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of NYSE:UHS traded up $0.61 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $182.46. 595,099 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 536,839. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.26 billion, a PE ratio of 17.73, a P/E/G ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 1.23. The business’s 50 day moving average is $166.90 and its two-hundred day moving average is $147.15. The company has a quick ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 1.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a one year low of $119.90 and a one year high of $183.61.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 27th. The health services provider reported $3.13 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.02 by $0.11. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 5.03% and a return on equity of 12.08%. The company had revenue of $3.70 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.66 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $3.02 earnings per share. Universal Health Services’s quarterly revenue was up 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 13.39 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Investors of record on Friday, March 1st were paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.44%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 29th. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is currently 7.80%.

Universal Health Services Company 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.