Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Stock Holdings Cut by ING Groep NV

ING Groep NV lessened its position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 67.4% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 17,752 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 36,778 shares during the quarter. ING Groep NV’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $4,065,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 6.3% during the third quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 1,881 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $431,000 after acquiring an additional 112 shares during the period. Sivik Global Healthcare LLC grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 12.5% in the 3rd quarter. Sivik Global Healthcare LLC now owns 45,000 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $10,305,000 after purchasing an additional 5,000 shares during the last quarter. Huntington National Bank raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 414.3% in the 3rd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares in the last quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. bought a new stake in Universal Health Services during the third quarter worth approximately $376,000. Finally, Chase Investment Counsel Corp grew its position in Universal Health Services by 2.6% in the third quarter. Chase Investment Counsel Corp now owns 16,502 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $3,779,000 after buying an additional 425 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UHS opened at $201.69 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a one year low of $132.74 and a one year high of $243.25. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $221.18 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $205.11. The company has a market capitalization of $13.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.29.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.75 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.90 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.55 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services declared that its board has authorized a share repurchase plan on Wednesday, July 24th that allows the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the health services provider to reacquire up to 8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are often a sign that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently weighed in on UHS. StockNews.com lowered Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, November 9th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Bank of America started coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 target price for the company. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, KeyCorp started coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 11th. They set a “sector weight” rating on the stock. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $231.14.

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.