Quarry LP Raises Stock Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Quarry LP lifted its position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 108.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 451 shares of the health services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 235 shares during the period. Quarry LP’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $83,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter worth $32,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in Universal Health Services by 1,284.6% in the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 167 shares during the period. Innealta Capital LLC bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the 2nd quarter worth about $35,000. Mather Group LLC. purchased a new position in Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter valued at about $36,000. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

NYSE UHS opened at $224.00 on Thursday. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $227.45 and its 200 day moving average price is $195.65. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1 year low of $119.90 and a 1 year high of $243.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.28 and a quick ratio of 1.17. The company has a market cap of $14.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.98, a PEG ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.28.

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

Universal Health Services announced that its board has initiated a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, July 24th that permits the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the health services provider to purchase up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are generally an indication that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd were issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.36%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 6.78%.

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages recently issued reports on UHS. UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $247.00 to $267.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 14th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $219.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $255.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. Baird R W upgraded Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 26th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $229.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 30th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Universal Health Services currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target 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.