ProShare Advisors LLC Decreases Stock Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

ProShare Advisors LLC trimmed its position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 42.0% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 16,603 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 12,047 shares during the period. ProShare Advisors LLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $2,979,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in UHS. R Squared Ltd acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Quent Capital LLC grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 118.3% in the fourth quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 179 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. Campbell Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $46,000. Huntington National Bank increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 55.6% in the fourth quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 280 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $50,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its position 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 buying an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 0.7%

Shares of UHS stock opened at $195.44 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28. The firm has a market cap of $12.70 billion, a PE ratio of 12.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a 50-day moving average of $179.95 and a two-hundred day moving average of $185.24. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $153.99 and a 1-year high of $243.25.

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

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.41%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 2nd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 4.49%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UHS has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Barclays boosted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $249.00 to $257.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 29th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, March 10th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Guggenheim started coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. They set a “buy” rating and a $208.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $211.00 to $201.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $224.77.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related 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 value of $210,053.56. Following the completion of 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 ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 16.40% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.