Ensign Peak Advisors Inc Increases Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Ensign Peak Advisors Inc increased its position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 34.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 32,845 shares of the health services provider's stock after buying an additional 8,501 shares during the quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc's holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $5,893,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in UHS. Choreo LLC boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 3.4% in the fourth quarter. Choreo LLC now owns 1,822 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $325,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 2.2% in the fourth quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 3,060 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $549,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 5.9% in 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. boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 17.6% in 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. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 0.5% in 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. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently commented on the company. Stephens upped their target price on Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Friday, February 28th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on Universal Health Services from $211.00 to $201.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Robert W. Baird reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $224.00 target price (down from $274.00) on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Morgan Stanley began coverage on Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, March 26th. They set an "equal weight" rating and a $200.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Baird R W cut Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Universal Health Services presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $224.77.

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

In related news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total value of $179,160.00. Following the completion of 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 transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 16.40% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 1.1%

Shares of NYSE:UHS traded up $2.22 during trading on Friday, reaching $198.10. 766,053 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 753,975. 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, Inc. has a 1-year low of $153.99 and a 1-year high of $243.25. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $178.70 and a two-hundred day moving average of $185.51. The firm has a market cap of $12.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.29.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $4.84 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates 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 company had revenue of $4.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.16 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $3.70 earnings per share. Universal Health Services's revenue for the quarter was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced 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 0.40%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 2nd. 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.