Foster & Motley Inc. Raises Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Foster & Motley Inc. increased its position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 5.6% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,638 shares of the health services provider’s stock after buying an additional 139 shares during the period. Foster & Motley Inc.’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $473,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Public Sector Pension Investment Board raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 67.1% during the 2nd quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 2,272 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $420,000 after acquiring an additional 912 shares in the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 0.9% during the second quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 52,473 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $9,704,000 after purchasing an additional 483 shares in the last quarter. Creative Planning lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 24.6% during the second quarter. Creative Planning now owns 5,775 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $1,068,000 after purchasing an additional 1,140 shares during the last quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 2nd quarter worth $2,091,000. Finally, Abacus Planning Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 3rd quarter worth about $232,000. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UHS has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $222.00 to $211.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $226.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. StockNews.com downgraded Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, November 9th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 25th. Finally, TD Cowen reduced their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, November 26th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $226.14.

Insider Activity at Universal Health Services

In related news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total transaction of $308,516.10. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 5,879 shares in the company, valued at $1,123,770.85. This represents a 21.54 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE:UHS opened at $188.29 on Friday. The business’s 50 day moving average is $187.78 and its 200 day moving average is $207.62. The stock has a market cap of $12.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 1.30. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52-week low of $152.68 and a 52-week high of $243.25. 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 Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 3rd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.42%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 5.32%.

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.