Global Retirement Partners LLC Buys 188 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Global Retirement Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 29.3% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 830 shares of the health services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 188 shares during the period. Global Retirement Partners LLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $149,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Convergence Investment Partners LLC lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 42.1% during the fourth quarter. Convergence Investment Partners LLC now owns 8,809 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $1,581,000 after purchasing an additional 2,610 shares during the period. Venturi Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 48.7% during the fourth quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 708 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $127,000 after purchasing an additional 232 shares during the period. CIBC Asset Management Inc lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 3.6% during the fourth quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 8,988 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $1,613,000 after purchasing an additional 314 shares during the period. Allworth Financial LP increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 4,850.0% during the fourth quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 3,267 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $611,000 after buying an additional 3,201 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Principal Securities Inc. increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 26.9% during the fourth quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 2,360 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $423,000 after buying an additional 501 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have commented on the stock. TD Cowen reduced their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 25th. 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 target price for the company. StockNews.com cut shares of Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, November 9th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $226.14.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

UHS stock opened at $179.11 on Thursday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12 month low of $152.68 and a 12 month high of $243.25. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $184.38 and a 200 day moving average price of $205.46. The stock has a market cap of $11.82 billion, a PE ratio of 11.91, a P/E/G ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.30.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.21 by $0.71. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd will be paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.45%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is presently 5.32%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total value of $308,516.10. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 5,879 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,123,770.85. The trade was a 21.54 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 16.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.