US Bancorp DE lessened its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS – Free Report) by 8.2% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 2,932 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 261 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $535,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 75,120 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $13,706,000 after acquiring an additional 880 shares during the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Inspire Investing LLC bought a new position in Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter worth approximately $897,000. GW Henssler & Associates Ltd. acquired a new position in Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter worth $230,000. Finally, Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC acquired a new position in Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter worth $738,000. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com upgraded Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 17th. UBS Group raised Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $189.00 to $226.00 in a report on Monday, May 20th. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $189.00 to $198.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 10th. Stephens reissued an “equal weight” rating and set a $185.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Thursday, April 25th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald restated an “underweight” rating and issued a $162.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, July 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $194.21.
Get Our Latest Research Report on Universal Health Services
Universal Health Services Stock Performance
UHS stock opened at $186.10 on Thursday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $119.90 and a 1-year high of $194.02. The company has a current ratio of 1.38, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75. The firm has a market cap of $12.46 billion, a PE ratio of 15.77, a P/E/G ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 1.28. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $184.35 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $173.21.
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 for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.14 by $0.56. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 13.34% and a net margin of 5.57%. The business had revenue of $3.84 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.78 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.34 EPS. Universal Health Services’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 13.83 earnings per share for the current year.
Universal Health Services Announces Dividend
The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd will be issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.43%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 6.78%.
Universal Health Services announced that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase program on Wednesday, July 24th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the health services provider to purchase up to 8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are typically an indication that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.
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.
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Source: defenseworld.net
