PNC Financial Services Group Inc. cut its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS – Free Report) by 31.6% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 10,777 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 4,980 shares during the quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc.’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $1,643,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 48.0% in the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 1,967,220 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $247,339,000 after purchasing an additional 638,166 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter valued at $86,117,000. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in Universal Health Services by 12.9% in the third quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,707,708 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $214,710,000 after acquiring an additional 195,650 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 4.1% during the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 3,398,974 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $427,353,000 after purchasing an additional 134,122 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Qube Research & Technologies Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the third quarter worth about $7,634,000. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Insider Buying and Selling
In other news, CFO Steve Filton sold 35,000 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $176.82, for a total transaction of $6,188,700.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 68,785 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,162,563.70. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 16.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
UHS has been the topic of a number of research reports. UBS Group upgraded Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price target for the stock from $189.00 to $226.00 in a research note on Monday, May 20th. TD Cowen upped their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $181.00 to $183.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 30th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $208.00 to $203.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 12th. Mizuho lifted their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $175.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 6th. Finally, Citigroup increased 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 note on Thursday, February 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $187.64.
Check Out Our Latest Analysis on UHS
Universal Health Services Stock Performance
Shares of UHS stock traded down $1.19 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $175.18. 404,022 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 604,197. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 1.38 and a quick ratio of 1.28. The company’s 50 day moving average is $172.66 and its two-hundred day moving average is $161.24. The company has a market cap of $11.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.87 and a beta of 1.26. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1 year low of $119.90 and a 1 year high of $183.61.
Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 24th. The health services provider reported $3.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.14 by $0.56. The firm had revenue of $3.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.78 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 13.34% and a net margin of 5.57%. Universal Health Services’s revenue was up 10.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.34 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 13.64 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Universal Health Services Announces Dividend
The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 17th. Investors of record on Monday, June 3rd will be paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.46%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 6.78%.
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.
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