ProShare Advisors LLC Purchases 11,532 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

ProShare Advisors LLC increased its position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 107.3% during the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 22,284 shares of the health services provider’s stock after buying an additional 11,532 shares during the quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $4,121,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Inspire Investing LLC bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at $897,000. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 95.9% in the 1st quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board now owns 19,511 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $3,560,000 after acquiring an additional 9,549 shares in the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 27.9% during the 1st quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 65,643 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $11,998,000 after purchasing an additional 14,326 shares in the last quarter. Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC bought a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter worth approximately $738,000. Finally, Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 5,033.3% in the first quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 7,084 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $1,292,000 after purchasing an additional 6,946 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. UBS Group upped their price target on Universal Health Services from $247.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 14th. Baird R W upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, June 26th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $255.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 30th. TD Cowen upped their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $183.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, July 26th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $189.00 to $222.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Monday, September 9th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $224.92.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 0.6 %

NYSE:UHS opened at $239.76 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.99 billion, a PE ratio of 20.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.28. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $223.99 and its 200 day moving average is $194.01. The company has a current ratio of 1.28, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12 month low of $119.90 and a 12 month high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The health services provider reported $4.31 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.37 by $0.94. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 6.22%. The company had revenue of $3.91 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.87 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.53 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.91 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.33%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 3rd. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is currently 6.78%.

Universal Health Services declared that its Board of Directors has approved a stock buyback plan on Wednesday, July 24th that permits the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the health services provider to repurchase up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are often an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Universal Health Services news, EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $210.85, for a total transaction of $3,192,479.85. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 5,253 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,107,595.05. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Universal Health Services news, EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $210.85, for a total transaction of $3,192,479.85. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 5,253 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,107,595.05. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Eileen C. Mcdonnell sold 2,535 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.55, for a total value of $531,209.25. Following the sale, the director now owns 6,413 shares in the company, valued at $1,343,844.15. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 21,970 shares of company stock valued at $4,653,535. Company insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

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.