Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. Boosts Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 0.6% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 18,154 shares of the health services provider’s stock after buying an additional 112 shares during the period. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd.’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $3,257,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. R Squared Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Quent Capital LLC increased its position in Universal Health Services by 118.3% in the fourth quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 179 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. Campbell Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter worth about $46,000. Sunbelt Securities Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter valued at about $69,000. Finally, Board of the Pension Protection Fund bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $72,000. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Universal Health Services

In related news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total transaction of $179,160.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 7,916 shares in the company, valued at $1,418,230.56. The trade was a 11.22 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 10th. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $271.00 to $249.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their price target for the stock from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $226.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $228.38.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE UHS opened at $187.53 on Wednesday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $152.69 and a 1-year high of $243.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28. The business’s 50 day moving average is $181.95 and its two-hundred day moving average is $196.34. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.47, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.32.

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

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.43%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is presently 4.75%.

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.