Foundry Partners LLC Sells 296 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Foundry Partners LLC decreased its position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 69,706 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 296 shares during the quarter. Foundry Partners LLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $15,963,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Acadian Asset Management LLC grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 597.1% during the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 1,680 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $304,000 after buying an additional 1,439 shares during the last quarter. UniSuper Management Pty Ltd grew its position in Universal Health Services by 501.5% during the 1st quarter. UniSuper Management Pty Ltd now owns 5,919 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $1,080,000 after acquiring an additional 4,935 shares during the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 5,033.3% during the 1st quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 7,084 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $1,292,000 after purchasing an additional 6,946 shares in the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI raised its position in Universal Health Services by 554.6% in the 1st quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 93,187 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $16,596,000 after purchasing an additional 78,952 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Shell Asset Management Co. acquired a new position in Universal Health Services in the first quarter worth $392,000. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have commented on UHS. TD Cowen decreased their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $283.00 to $275.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 28th. Stephens reissued an “equal weight” rating and issued a $200.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Thursday, July 25th. Bank of America started coverage on Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 price objective on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $229.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 30th. Finally, Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on Universal Health Services from $236.00 to $274.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. Six 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. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $231.14.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of UHS stock opened at $197.44 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 1.29. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12-month low of $133.70 and a 12-month 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 firm has a fifty day moving average of $219.39 and a 200-day moving average of $205.95.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.75 by ($0.04). Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The business had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.90 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.55 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.93 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 Tuesday, December 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.41%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 5.32%.

Universal Health Services announced that its board has approved a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, July 24th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the health services provider to purchase up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are generally a sign that the company’s management believes its stock is 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.