Retirement Systems of Alabama Sells 271 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Retirement Systems of Alabama lowered its position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 2.1% in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 12,713 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 271 shares during the period. Retirement Systems of Alabama’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $2,281,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Cerity Partners LLC boosted its position in Universal Health Services by 86.4% during the 3rd quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 21,047 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $4,820,000 after acquiring an additional 9,755 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in Universal Health Services by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,197,537 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $274,248,000 after acquiring an additional 10,578 shares during the last quarter. Vestcor Inc boosted its position in Universal Health Services by 1,436.5% during the 3rd quarter. Vestcor Inc now owns 54,070 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $12,383,000 after acquiring an additional 50,551 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Universal Health Services by 4.0% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,661,530 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $379,403,000 after acquiring an additional 63,754 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Eagle Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $13,496,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total value of $308,516.10. Following the sale, the director now directly 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 filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Company insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their price objective for the company from $228.00 to $198.00 in a report on Monday, December 16th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 25th. Barclays increased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Bank of America assumed coverage on Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 price target for the company. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $226.14.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 0.3 %

UHS stock opened at $185.93 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.36, a PEG ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 1.30. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $185.93 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $207.89. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $152.68 and a fifty-two week high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd were given a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.43%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 3rd. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is 5.32%.

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.