PNC Financial Services Group Inc. Grows Stock Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 8.9% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 9,252 shares of the health services provider’s stock after buying an additional 754 shares during the quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc.’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $1,676,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its position in Universal Health Services by 22.9% in the 2nd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 354 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $64,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 2.7% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 2,665 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $501,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares during the period. Fifth Third Bancorp lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 5.5% in the 2nd quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 1,432 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $259,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares during the period. Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 0.4% during the second quarter. Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 18,244 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $3,295,000 after buying an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. Finally, HighTower Advisors LLC grew its position in Universal Health Services by 0.6% during the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 13,328 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $2,504,000 after buying an additional 81 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have weighed in on UHS shares. Morgan Stanley set a $233.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Wall Street Zen raised Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Saturday, October 11th. Zacks Research raised Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 27th. Robert W. Baird cut their price objective on 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. Finally, UBS Group set a $231.00 target price on Universal Health Services in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $233.87.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

NYSE:UHS opened at $227.97 on Thursday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $208.86 and a two-hundred day moving average of $189.86. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12 month low of $152.33 and a 12 month high of $231.37. The firm has a market cap of $14.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.33. The company has a current ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The health services provider reported $5.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.66 by $1.03. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.47% and a net margin of 8.09%.The firm had revenue of $4.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.32 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.71 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 13.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 1st will be given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 1st. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is 3.80%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Elliot J. Md Mba Sussman sold 965 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $225.70, for a total transaction of $217,800.50. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 6,113 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,379,704.10. The trade was a 13.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,817 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $223.30, for a total transaction of $852,336.10. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 8,481 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,893,807.30. The trade was a 31.04% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Company insiders own 16.40% of the company’s stock.

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.