Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Shares Bought by Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC

Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 120.7% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 8,599 shares of the health services provider’s stock after buying an additional 4,703 shares during the quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $1,616,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. UMB Bank n.a. raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 49.3% during the first quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 203 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 67 shares during the last quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 5.9% during the fourth quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,266 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $227,000 after acquiring an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. Platinum Investment Management Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 17.6% during the fourth quarter. Platinum Investment Management Ltd. now owns 488 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $88,000 after acquiring an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 15,512 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $2,783,000 after acquiring an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Metis Global Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 4.7% during the fourth quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 1,988 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $357,000 after acquiring an additional 90 shares during the last quarter. 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 1,097 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.48, for a total value of $210,053.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 7,884 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,509,628.32. This represents a 12.21% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 16.40% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 1.9%

Shares of Universal Health Services stock opened at $181.50 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.19, a PEG ratio of 0.73 and a beta of 1.31. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $153.99 and a fifty-two week high of $243.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.32. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $181.32 and a 200 day moving average of $181.22.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $4.84 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.36 by $0.48. The company had revenue of $4.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.16 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 17.79% and a net margin of 7.44%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $3.70 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 16th. Investors of record on Monday, June 2nd were given a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 2nd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.44%. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is 4.49%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have commented on the company. Stephens raised Universal Health Services to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Morgan Stanley started coverage on Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, March 26th. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $200.00 target price for the company. Robert W. Baird restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $224.00 price target (down from $274.00) on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday, April 15th. Guggenheim started coverage on Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $208.00 price target for the company. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price target on Universal Health Services from $211.00 to $201.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $224.77.

Universal Health Services 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.