Janus Henderson Group PLC Boosts Stock Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Janus Henderson Group PLC lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 20.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,638 shares of the health services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,304 shares during the period. Janus Henderson Group PLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $1,371,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of UHS. Humankind Investments LLC grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 18.2% in the 4th quarter. Humankind Investments LLC now owns 1,647 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $296,000 after buying an additional 254 shares during the period. Focus Partners Wealth lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 34.2% during the fourth quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 1,457 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $261,000 after purchasing an additional 371 shares during the period. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 34.9% during the 4th quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc now owns 32,845 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $5,893,000 after purchasing an additional 8,501 shares in the last quarter. FORA Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter worth about $3,174,000. Finally, D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 99.2% during the 4th quarter. D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. now owns 12,450 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $2,234,000 after purchasing an additional 6,200 shares during the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,097 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.48, for a total value of $210,053.56. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 7,884 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,509,628.32. This trade represents a 12.21% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Insiders own 16.40% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 1.9%

Shares of NYSE:UHS opened at $186.56 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $180.64 and a 200-day moving average of $185.12. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a twelve month low of $153.99 and a twelve month high of $243.25. The firm has a market cap of $12.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.40, a P/E/G ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its earnings results on Monday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $4.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.36 by $0.48. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The company had revenue of $4.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.16 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $3.70 earnings per share. Universal Health Services’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 2nd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.43%. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is presently 4.49%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on UHS shares. Baird R W downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 15th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, March 10th. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, March 26th. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $200.00 price objective for the company. Guggenheim initiated coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $208.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $249.00 to $257.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 29th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $224.77.

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.