Stifel Financial Corp Sells 11,365 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Stifel Financial Corp lessened its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 74.0% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 4,002 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 11,365 shares during the quarter. Stifel Financial Corp’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $917,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of UHS. Financial Management Professionals Inc. bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter worth $32,000. True Wealth Design LLC acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the third quarter valued at about $39,000. Huntington National Bank increased its position in Universal Health Services by 414.3% during the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $41,000 after acquiring an additional 145 shares during the period. Innealta Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services in the 2nd quarter worth about $35,000. Finally, Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. boosted its holdings 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 purchasing an additional 74 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently commented on UHS shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $226.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price objective on Universal Health Services from $222.00 to $211.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 28th. TD Cowen cut their target price on Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, November 26th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $219.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Bank of America initiated coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 price objective for the company. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Universal Health Services has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $226.14.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of UHS opened at $180.72 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.39. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52 week low of $150.11 and a 52 week high of $243.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.02, a PEG ratio of 0.60 and a beta of 1.28. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $204.23 and a 200-day moving average of $208.31.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted 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 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%. Universal Health Services’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.55 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate 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 announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd were issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.44%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 3rd. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is 5.32%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total value of $308,516.10. Following the sale, the director now owns 5,879 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,123,770.85. The trade was a 21.54 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Corporate 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.