Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Stock Position Lifted by Fisher Asset Management LLC

Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 12.2% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 2,658 shares of the health services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 289 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $477,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Proficio Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $11,303,000. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund grew its position in Universal Health Services by 7.6% in the fourth quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund now owns 54,399 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $9,760,000 after acquiring an additional 3,848 shares in the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC grew its position in Universal Health Services by 28.4% in the fourth quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 270,759 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $48,580,000 after acquiring an additional 59,833 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its position in Universal Health Services by 2.1% in the fourth quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 487,904 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $87,540,000 after acquiring an additional 10,250 shares in the last quarter. Finally, IFP Advisors Inc grew its position in Universal Health Services by 28.2% in the fourth quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 1,233 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $222,000 after acquiring an additional 271 shares in the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the 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 owns 5,879 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,123,770.85. This represents a 21.54 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UHS has been the subject of several recent research reports. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $271.00 to $249.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 25th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. 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. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $226.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday, December 17th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $231.17.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

NYSE:UHS opened at $174.85 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $11.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.63, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.32. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a one year low of $152.68 and a one year high of $243.25. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $184.15 and a 200 day moving average price of $203.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.21 by $0.71. The firm had revenue of $4.11 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.01 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. Analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd will be paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.46%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 3rd. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is currently 4.75%.

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.