Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Shares Acquired by Cozad Asset Management Inc.

Cozad Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 8.1% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 24,837 shares of the health services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,857 shares during the quarter. Cozad Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $5,688,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Financial Management Professionals Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of 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% in the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 167 shares during the period. Innealta Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services during the second quarter valued at $35,000. Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at $36,000. Finally, LRI Investments LLC acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the first quarter worth about $43,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $217.64, for a total transaction of $749,552.16. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 3,971 shares in the company, valued at $864,248.44. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on UHS shares. UBS Group increased their price target on Universal Health Services from $247.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. Bank of America initiated coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday. They set a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com lowered shares of Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $229.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $219.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Universal Health Services currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $231.14.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 4.1 %

Shares of NYSE:UHS opened at $203.51 on Thursday. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $225.57 and a 200 day moving average price of $203.45. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12-month low of $127.43 and a 12-month high of $243.25. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The company has a market capitalization of $13.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.53, a PEG ratio of 0.67 and a beta of 1.29.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.75 by ($0.04). The company had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations 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% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.55 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.89 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback program on Wednesday, July 24th that allows the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the health services provider to purchase up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Universal Health Services Company 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.