Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Shares Sold by abrdn plc

abrdn plc reduced its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 18.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 15,711 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 3,578 shares during the period. abrdn plc’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $3,514,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Financial Management Professionals Inc. acquired a new position in Universal Health Services in the third quarter worth about $32,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 1,284.6% during the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 167 shares during the last quarter. Innealta Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, LRI Investments LLC bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Nina Chen-Langenmayr sold 850 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.11, for a total value of $180,293.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 1,985 shares in the company, valued at $421,038.35. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other Universal Health Services news, Director Nina Chen-Langenmayr sold 850 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $212.11, for a total value of $180,293.50. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 1,985 shares in the company, valued at approximately $421,038.35. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $217.64, for a total transaction of $749,552.16. Following the transaction, the director now owns 3,971 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $864,248.44. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 16.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have weighed in on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $229.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 30th. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $222.00 to $211.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 28th. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on Universal Health Services from $236.00 to $274.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th. Barclays upped their target price on Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald restated a “neutral” rating and set a $219.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $231.00.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of UHS opened at $205.26 on Monday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52-week low of $125.69 and a 52-week high of $243.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.69 billion, a PE ratio of 13.65, a P/E/G ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.29. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $227.19 and a 200 day moving average price of $202.38. 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 (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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). The company had revenue of $3.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.90 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. Universal Health Services’s revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.55 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services declared that its board has initiated a stock buyback plan on Wednesday, July 24th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the health services provider to reacquire up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are usually a sign that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

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.