Fmr LLC Reduces Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Fmr LLC cut its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 17.9% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 2,320,197 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 505,527 shares during the quarter. Fmr LLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $416,290,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 71.0% in the fourth quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 66,995 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $12,020,000 after purchasing an additional 27,819 shares during the last quarter. Rhenman & Partners Asset Management AB boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 286.3% in the fourth quarter. Rhenman & Partners Asset Management AB now owns 30,900 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $5,544,000 after purchasing an additional 22,900 shares during the last quarter. Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter valued at $3,064,000. Integrated Quantitative Investments LLC purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter valued at $368,000. Finally, Prudential PLC boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 91.6% in the fourth quarter. Prudential PLC now owns 2,341 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $420,000 after purchasing an additional 1,119 shares during the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have commented on UHS. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $226.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. Guggenheim started coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday. They set a “buy” rating and a $208.00 target price on the stock. Morgan Stanley started coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, March 26th. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $200.00 target price on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $226.93.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 5.8 %

UHS stock opened at $183.31 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $11.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.19, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12 month low of $152.69 and a 12 month high of $243.25. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $180.53 and a two-hundred day moving average of $193.74.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.21 by $0.71. The company had revenue of $4.11 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.01 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. As a group, analysts forecast 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 disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd were issued a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.44%. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is 4.75%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 10th. The shares were 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 $1,418,230.56. This trade represents a 11.22 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 16.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.