Dimensional Fund Advisors LP Sells 44,286 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP cut its holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 3.7% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,139,601 shares of the health services provider's stock after selling 44,286 shares during the quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned approximately 1.73% of Universal Health Services worth $204,464,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Stephens lifted their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Morgan Stanley started coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, March 26th. They issued an "equal weight" rating and a $200.00 price target on the stock. Baird R W cut Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 15th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 10th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded 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 issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $224.92.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE:UHS traded up $0.61 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $172.29. 165,280 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 743,788. The firm has a market cap of $11.20 billion, a PE ratio of 11.46, a P/E/G ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.21. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $153.99 and a fifty-two week high of $243.25. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $177.10 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $189.14. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.21 by $0.71. The company had revenue of $4.11 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.01 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast 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, March 17th. Stockholders 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 0.46%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 3rd. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio is presently 4.75%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total value of $179,160.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 7,916 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,418,230.56. This represents a 11.22 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 16.40% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

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.