Cerity Partners LLC Has $4.82 Million Stock Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Cerity Partners LLC lifted its position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 86.4% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 21,047 shares of the health services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 9,755 shares during the period. Cerity Partners LLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $4,820,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bayesian Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter valued at about $248,000. iA Global Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in Universal Health Services by 24.0% during the first quarter. iA Global Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,350 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $794,000 after purchasing an additional 842 shares during the period. LRI Investments LLC acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at $59,000. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 134.2% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 8,744 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $1,595,000 after purchasing an additional 5,010 shares during the period. Finally, Cetera Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter worth about $642,000. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Universal Health Services stock opened at $203.50 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $13.42 billion, a PE ratio of 13.53, a P/E/G ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12-month low of $133.70 and a 12-month high of $243.25. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $216.16 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $206.94.

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 analysts’ consensus estimates 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 firm had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.90 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.55 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company 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. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.39%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 5.32%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on UHS shares. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $219.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $236.00 to $274.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 4th. KeyCorp started coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Friday, October 11th. They set a “sector weight” rating on the stock. Finally, TD Cowen reduced their price target on Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday. 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. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $225.50.

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.