Allianz Asset Management GmbH Reduces Stock Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Allianz Asset Management GmbH lowered its stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 3.2% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 241,170 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 8,096 shares during the period. Allianz Asset Management GmbH’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $43,271,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 102.0% in the third quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 210,926 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $48,304,000 after purchasing an additional 106,517 shares during the last quarter. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter worth approximately $18,709,000. Mizuho Securities USA LLC boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 2,101.2% in the third quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC now owns 101,188 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $23,173,000 after purchasing an additional 96,591 shares during the last quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services in the third quarter worth approximately $21,557,000. Finally, Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 70.8% in the third quarter. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC now owns 214,379 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $49,095,000 after purchasing an additional 88,872 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total value of $308,516.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 5,879 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,123,770.85. This trade represents a 21.54 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $222.00 to $211.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 28th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, November 9th. Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 price target on the stock. TD Cowen decreased their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 26th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Universal Health Services currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $226.14.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UHS opened at $179.93 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.39. The company has a market cap of $11.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.96, a P/E/G ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.30. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $184.27 and its two-hundred day moving average is $206.13. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52-week low of $152.68 and a 52-week high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd will be issued a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.44%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 5.32%.

About Universal Health Services

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.