Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Shares Sold by Bank of America Corp DE

Bank of America Corp DE reduced its stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 20.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 291,739 shares of the health services provider's stock after selling 77,181 shares during the quarter. Bank of America Corp DE owned 0.44% of Universal Health Services worth $52,344,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of UHS. Barclays PLC grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 13.4% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 188,765 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $43,227,000 after purchasing an additional 22,369 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 0.9% in the 3rd 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 last quarter. Czech National Bank grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 5.1% in the 4th quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 12,731 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $2,284,000 after purchasing an additional 618 shares during the last quarter. Wedmont Private Capital grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 26.4% in the 4th quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 1,315 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $241,000 after purchasing an additional 275 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Board of the Pension Protection Fund acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $72,000. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 0.6%

UHS traded down $1.19 on Monday, reaching $196.75. The company's stock had a trading volume of 469,959 shares, compared to its average volume of 754,478. The business's 50 day moving average is $179.31 and its 200 day moving average is $185.17. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1 year low of $153.99 and a 1 year high of $243.25. The stock has a market cap of $12.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $4.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 firm had revenue of $4.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.16 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $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, research analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 2nd. Universal Health Services's payout ratio is currently 4.49%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UHS has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Barclays raised their price target on Universal Health Services from $249.00 to $257.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 29th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective 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. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, March 26th. They issued an "equal weight" rating and a $200.00 price objective for the company. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target 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. Finally, Robert W. Baird reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $224.00 target price (down previously from $274.00) on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday, April 15th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Universal Health Services presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $224.77.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total transaction of $179,160.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 7,916 shares in the company, valued at $1,418,230.56. This represents a 11.22% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 16.40% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

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.