Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Director Sells $308,516.10 in Stock

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 11th. The shares were 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 owns 5,879 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,123,770.85. This trade represents a 21.54 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 2.2 %

NYSE:UHS opened at $186.44 on Friday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52-week low of $143.96 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. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $208.11 and a 200-day simple moving average of $208.06. The company has a market capitalization of $12.30 billion, a PE ratio of 12.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its 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). Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The company had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.90 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.55 EPS. Universal Health Services’s quarterly revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.43%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 3rd. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is 5.32%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Financial Management Professionals Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the third quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 1,284.6% during the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares during the period. Innealta Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the second quarter valued at $35,000. True Wealth Design LLC acquired a new position in Universal Health Services in the third quarter valued at $39,000. Finally, Huntington National Bank lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 414.3% during the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 145 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UHS has been the topic of a number of research reports. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 25th. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on Universal Health Services from $222.00 to $211.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 28th. StockNews.com downgraded Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, November 9th. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, KeyCorp started coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Friday, October 11th. They issued a “sector weight” rating on the stock. 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 company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $225.50.

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.