Ethic Inc. Decreases Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Ethic Inc. decreased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 45.9% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 1,538 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 1,305 shares during the quarter. Ethic Inc.’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $276,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of UHS. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $67,964,000. Invesco Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 25.6% during the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,241,340 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $222,721,000 after buying an additional 253,385 shares during the last quarter. Amundi grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 189.5% during the fourth quarter. Amundi now owns 360,070 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $68,532,000 after buying an additional 235,689 shares during the last quarter. Freestone Grove Partners LP bought a new position in Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter worth approximately $41,155,000. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 59.4% in the fourth quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 590,389 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $105,928,000 after purchasing an additional 219,942 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total transaction of $179,160.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 7,916 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,418,230.56. This represents a 11.22% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 16.40% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 1.1%

Shares of NYSE UHS opened at $198.10 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.88 billion, a PE ratio of 13.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.29. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $178.70 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $185.36. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12-month low of $153.99 and a 12-month high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its earnings results on Monday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $4.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.36 by $0.48. The business had revenue of $4.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.16 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $3.70 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 2nd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.40%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is presently 4.49%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently issued reports on UHS shares. Baird R W cut Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 15th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 10th. Stephens increased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Barclays increased 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. Finally, Guggenheim started coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $208.00 price objective on the stock. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $224.77.

Universal Health Services 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.