Ameriprise Financial Inc. Grows Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 82.8% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 94,275 shares of the health services provider's stock after buying an additional 42,714 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc. owned about 0.14% of Universal Health Services worth $16,916,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of UHS. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 22.5% during the 4th quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 54,105 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $9,721,000 after acquiring an additional 9,946 shares in the last quarter. Savant Capital LLC raised its holdings in Universal Health Services by 255.3% in the 4th quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 6,345 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $1,138,000 after purchasing an additional 4,559 shares during the period. Abacus Planning Group Inc. boosted its position in Universal Health Services by 175.6% during the fourth quarter. Abacus Planning Group Inc. now owns 2,792 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $501,000 after purchasing an additional 1,779 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 0.9% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,197,537 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $274,248,000 after purchasing an additional 10,578 shares during the period. Finally, Empirical Finance LLC increased its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 43.3% in the fourth quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 8,176 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $1,467,000 after buying an additional 2,472 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company's stock.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 2.4%

Shares of UHS stock traded down $4.76 on Wednesday, hitting $190.97. 235,115 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 752,290. 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 twelve month low of $153.99 and a twelve month high of $243.25. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $179.95 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $185.24. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.41 billion, a PE ratio of 12.70, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.29.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $4.84 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $4.36 by $0.48. The business had revenue of $4.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.16 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $3.70 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.42%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 2nd. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio is presently 4.49%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,097 shares of the company's stock in a transaction 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 completion of the transaction, the director now owns 7,884 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,509,628.32. This represents a 12.21% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 16.40% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on UHS shares. Robert W. Baird reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $224.00 target price (down previously from $274.00) on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday, April 15th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, March 10th. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, March 26th. They set an "equal weight" rating and a $200.00 price target for the company. Stephens raised their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded Universal Health Services from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target 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.