Vestcor Inc Reduces Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Vestcor Inc decreased its holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 5.1% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 51,306 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 2,764 shares during the quarter. Vestcor Inc’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $9,205,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. R Squared Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter worth approximately $29,000. Quent Capital LLC raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 118.3% during the 4th quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 179 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 97 shares during the period. True Wealth Design LLC bought a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $39,000. Huntington National Bank raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 414.3% during the 3rd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $41,000 after acquiring an additional 145 shares during the period. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. bought a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $69,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 3.5 %

UHS stock opened at $166.56 on Thursday. 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, Inc. has a twelve month low of $152.68 and a twelve month high of $243.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.32. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $183.38 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $201.91.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.21 by $0.71. The firm had revenue of $4.11 billion for 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%. As a group, analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 3rd will be issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.48%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 3rd. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is presently 4.75%.

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total transaction of $179,160.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 7,916 shares in the company, valued at $1,418,230.56. This represents a 11.22 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UHS has been the topic of several research analyst reports. 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 report on Thursday, February 27th. Stephens upped their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target 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. Cantor Fitzgerald raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $226.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $230.75.

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.