NFJ Investment Group LLC Decreases Stock Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

NFJ Investment Group LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 14.1% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 116,627 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 19,108 shares during the period. NFJ Investment Group LLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $25,427,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of UHS. Pzena Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 31.5% during the 4th quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 2,112,604 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $460,590,000 after acquiring an additional 505,575 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 6.3% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,588,911 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $346,447,000 after purchasing an additional 94,447 shares in the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 7.1% in the 4th quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,206,000 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $262,932,000 after purchasing an additional 80,236 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter worth approximately $199,334,000. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 59.5% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 871,377 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $189,978,000 after purchasing an additional 325,162 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of UHS opened at $146.40 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $8.86 billion, a PE ratio of 6.10, a P/E/G ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a current ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $166.05 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $196.44. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $140.08 and a 1-year high of $246.32.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $5.62 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.41 by $0.21. The business had revenue of $4.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.39 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 8.56% and a return on equity of 19.57%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $4.84 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 23.47 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 8th will be paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 8th. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is 3.33%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UHS has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price target on Universal Health Services from $216.00 to $190.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 29th. Raymond James Financial cut Universal Health Services from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 29th. Wall Street Zen cut Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, May 2nd. Stephens decreased their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $235.00 to $205.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Monday, June 1st. They issued an “equal weight” rating and a $165.00 price objective for the company. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $218.63.

Universal Health Services Profile

Universal Health Services, Inc (NYSE: UHS) is one of the largest diversified health care management companies in the United States, offering a broad spectrum of services through its acute care hospital and behavioral health segments. The company operates general acute care hospitals, surgical hospitals and ambulatory centers, as well as inpatient and outpatient behavioral health facilities. Its network provides emergency and specialized medicine, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, advanced surgical care and rehabilitation, complemented by a comprehensive array of behavioral services including psychiatric treatment, addiction programs and developmental disabilities care.

In the acute care segment, UHS’s facilities deliver services ranging from emergency department treatment and intensive care to maternity care and outpatient surgery.