Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Holdings Raised by Asset Management One Co. Ltd.

Asset Management One Co. Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 14.6% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 35,156 shares of the health services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 4,472 shares during the quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. owned about 0.05% of Universal Health Services worth $8,051,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of UHS. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 0.8% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 7,099,282 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $1,295,335,000 after acquiring an additional 57,036 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 0.5% during the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 486,438 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $89,957,000 after acquiring an additional 2,620 shares during the period. Point72 Asset Management L.P. grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 362.3% during the second quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 322,626 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $59,663,000 after acquiring an additional 252,846 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 357.9% during the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 261,221 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $48,308,000 after acquiring an additional 204,178 shares during the period. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 1,191.8% during the first quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 215,215 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $39,267,000 after acquiring an additional 198,555 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of the business’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 directly owns 3,971 shares in the company, valued at approximately $864,248.44. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 2.4 %

Shares of NYSE UHS opened at $208.43 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $13.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.86, a PEG ratio of 0.67 and a beta of 1.29. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $225.03 and a 200 day simple moving average of $203.48. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52 week low of $127.43 and a 52 week high of $243.25. 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 (NYSE:UHS) last announced its quarterly 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%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.55 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently issued reports on UHS. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $219.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Friday, October 25th. UBS Group lifted their price target 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. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on Universal Health Services from $236.00 to $274.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th. Bank of America assumed coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Six 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 company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target 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.