Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Stock Position Lifted by Captrust Financial Advisors

Captrust Financial Advisors grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 73.0% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,226 shares of the health services provider’s stock after buying an additional 939 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors’ holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $510,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Financial Management Professionals Inc. acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Blue Trust Inc. increased its position in Universal Health Services by 1,284.6% in the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 167 shares during the period. Innealta Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Huntington National Bank increased its position in Universal Health Services by 414.3% in the 3rd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 145 shares during the period. Finally, Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. increased its position in Universal Health Services by 41.8% in the 2nd quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 251 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $46,000 after acquiring an additional 74 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

In related news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total transaction of $308,516.10. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 5,879 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,123,770.85. This trade represents a 21.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UHS has been the topic of several analyst reports. Cantor Fitzgerald restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $219.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 25th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on Universal Health Services from $222.00 to $211.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 28th. Bank of America initiated coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 price target for the company. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, November 9th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $225.50.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UHS opened at $186.44 on Friday. 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 1 year low of $143.96 and a 1 year high of $243.25. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $208.11 and a 200 day simple moving average of $208.06. The firm has a market cap of $12.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.40, a P/E/G ratio of 0.62 and a beta of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.75 by ($0.04). Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The company had revenue of $3.96 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.90 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.55 earnings per share. Universal Health Services’s quarterly revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be paid a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.43%. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is presently 5.32%.

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.