Inspire Investing LLC Boosts Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

Inspire Investing LLC raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 15.6% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,995 shares of the health services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 675 shares during the period. Inspire Investing LLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $905,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 57.8% during the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 931,355 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $173,381,000 after purchasing an additional 340,966 shares in the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 329.4% during the first quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 404,806 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $76,081,000 after purchasing an additional 310,531 shares in the last quarter. Nuveen LLC purchased a new position in Universal Health Services during the first quarter valued at $25,555,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 119.5% during the second quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 241,164 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $43,687,000 after purchasing an additional 131,305 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 113.5% during the first quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 242,500 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $45,566,000 after purchasing an additional 128,900 shares in the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Universal Health Services stock opened at $196.33 on Friday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12-month low of $152.33 and a 12-month high of $240.26. The stock has a market cap of $12.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.34, a PEG ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $187.47 and a 200 day moving average price of $181.80. The company has a current ratio of 1.29, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, July 28th. The health services provider reported $5.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.85 by $0.50. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 7.66% and a return on equity of 18.25%. The firm had revenue of $4.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.24 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $4.31 earnings per share. Universal Health Services’s revenue was up 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Universal Health Services has set its FY 2025 guidance at 20.000-21.000 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 2nd were given a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 2nd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 4.21%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have issued reports on UHS shares. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $227.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. UBS Group set a $227.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $249.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 7th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Saturday. Finally, Robert W. Baird reduced their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $243.00 to $203.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, August 14th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $217.08.

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.