DGS Capital Management LLC Boosts Stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

DGS Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 11.4% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 7,984 shares of the health services provider’s stock after buying an additional 817 shares during the quarter. DGS Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $1,829,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its stake in Universal Health Services by 134.2% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 8,744 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $1,595,000 after purchasing an additional 5,010 shares during the period. CWM LLC increased its position in Universal Health Services by 31.6% in the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 942 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $174,000 after acquiring an additional 226 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 14.1% during the 2nd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 2,303 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $426,000 after acquiring an additional 285 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its position in 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 acquiring an additional 167 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James & Associates grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 6.3% in the 2nd quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 25,363 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $4,690,000 after purchasing an additional 1,497 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

UHS stock traded up $0.18 on Friday, reaching $186.62. The company had a trading volume of 38,904 shares, compared to its average volume of 677,429. The company’s fifty day moving average is $208.11 and its 200 day moving average is $208.06. The company has a market cap of $12.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.40, a PEG ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.39. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1 year low of $147.33 and a 1 year high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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). 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%. The firm’s revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.55 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.88 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be issued a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 3rd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.43%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 5.32%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred 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 transaction, the director now owns 5,879 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,123,770.85. This trade represents a 21.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on UHS shares. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on Universal Health Services from $236.00 to $274.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th. KeyCorp started coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 11th. They set a “sector weight” rating for the company. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, November 9th. Bank of America initiated coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 price target for the company. Finally, TD Cowen reduced their price target on Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $225.50.

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.