Sigma Planning Corp Acquires Shares of 1,119 Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Sigma Planning Corp bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 1,119 shares of the health services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $256,000.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in UHS. Financial Management Professionals Inc. acquired a new position in Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter worth about $32,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 1,284.6% during the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares in the last quarter. Innealta Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the second quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, LRI Investments LLC bought a new position in Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter worth approximately $43,000. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

UHS stock opened at $201.69 on Friday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $132.74 and a 1-year high of $243.25. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The firm has a market cap of $13.45 billion, a PE ratio of 13.41, a P/E/G ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.29. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $221.18 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $205.36.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its 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 company had revenue of $3.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.90 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.55 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.93 earnings per share for the current year.

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have commented on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $229.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 30th. Barclays lifted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated a “neutral” rating and set a $219.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 25th. StockNews.com cut shares of Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, November 9th. Finally, Stephens restated an “equal weight” rating and issued a $200.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Thursday, July 25th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $231.14.

Universal Health Services Company 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.