Centiva Capital LP Boosts Stock Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Centiva Capital LP raised its position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 21.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 20,531 shares of the health services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 3,630 shares during the period. Centiva Capital LP's holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $3,684,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $67,964,000. Invesco Ltd. raised its holdings in Universal Health Services by 25.6% in the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,241,340 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $222,721,000 after acquiring an additional 253,385 shares during the last quarter. Amundi lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 189.5% during the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 360,070 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $68,532,000 after purchasing an additional 235,689 shares during the period. Freestone Grove Partners LP purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter valued at $41,155,000. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Universal Health Services by 59.4% in the fourth quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 590,389 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $105,928,000 after purchasing an additional 219,942 shares during the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total transaction of $179,160.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 7,916 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,418,230.56. This trade represents a 11.22 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 16.40% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have commented on UHS shares. 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 report on Monday, March 10th. Guggenheim initiated coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. They set a "buy" rating and a $208.00 price target on the stock. Robert W. Baird reissued a "neutral" rating and set a $224.00 price objective (down from $274.00) on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, April 15th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on Universal Health Services from $211.00 to $201.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald raised Universal Health Services from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $224.77.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Universal Health Services stock opened at $178.47 on Tuesday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12-month low of $153.99 and a 12-month high of $243.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28. The company has a market capitalization of $11.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.29. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $176.26 and its 200 day moving average price is $186.95.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) 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. The business had revenue of $4.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.16 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $3.70 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd were given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.45%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 3rd. Universal Health Services's payout ratio is 4.49%.

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.

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