Bank of Montreal Can Boosts Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Bank of Montreal Can lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 3.1% in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 68,017 shares of the health services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,064 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $12,778,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 4.2% in the second quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 1,160 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $215,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. LRI Investments LLC boosted its stake in Universal Health Services by 19.5% during the 2nd quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 386 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $71,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares during the last quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 11.4% during the first quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC now owns 624 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $114,000 after buying an additional 64 shares in the last quarter. Empirical Finance LLC raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.1% in the first quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 2,455 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $448,000 after buying an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Finally, O Neil Global Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 6.7% in the second quarter. O Neil Global Advisors Inc. now owns 1,175 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $217,000 after buying an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

In related news, EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction on Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $210.85, for a total value of $3,192,479.85. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,253 shares in the company, valued at $1,107,595.05. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $217.64, for a total transaction of $749,552.16. Following the sale, the director now owns 3,971 shares in the company, valued at $864,248.44. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $210.85, for a total value of $3,192,479.85. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,253 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,107,595.05. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 21,970 shares of company stock valued at $4,653,535. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

NYSE:UHS opened at $229.92 on Monday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $224.97 and a 200 day moving average price of $194.70. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $119.90 and a fifty-two week high of $243.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a current ratio of 1.28. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.48, a PEG ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.28.

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

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

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd were paid a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 3rd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.35%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 6.78%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently issued reports on UHS shares. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $255.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. Baird R W raised Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, June 26th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $219.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Monday, August 19th. UBS Group raised their target price on Universal Health Services from $247.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 14th. Finally, Stephens reissued an “equal weight” rating and set a $200.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Thursday, July 25th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $224.92.

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.