Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS Shares Acquired by Acadian Asset Management LLC

Key Points

• Acadian Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Universal Health Services by 96.6%, acquiring an additional 18,715 shares to bring its total to 38,087 shares, valued at approximately $7.15 million.
• Analysts have mixed outlooks on the company; while Wells Fargo & Company maintained an "overweight" rating, Bank of America downgraded it to "underperform," with a target price cut to $185.00.
• Universal Health Services announced a quarterly dividend of $0.20 per share, with a yield of 0.4%, to be paid on September 16th.

Acadian Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 96.6% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 38,087 shares of the health services provider's stock after buying an additional 18,715 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC owned approximately 0.06% of Universal Health Services worth $7,151,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Focus Partners Wealth boosted its stake in Universal Health Services by 80.6% during the first quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 2,631 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $494,000 after buying an additional 1,174 shares during the last quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 2,768.0% in the 1st quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd now owns 4,302 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $808,000 after purchasing an additional 4,152 shares during the last quarter. MBB Public Markets I LLC bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $334,000. United Services Automobile Association bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $235,000. Finally, Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $468,000. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 0.1%

UHS stock traded down $0.11 on Thursday, hitting $187.29. 148,559 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 826,880. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $176.50 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $178.80. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12-month low of $152.33 and a 12-month high of $243.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a current ratio of 1.29. The stock has a market cap of $11.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, July 28th. The health services provider reported $5.35 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $4.85 by $0.50. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 18.25% and a net margin of 7.66%.The company had revenue of $4.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.24 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $4.31 EPS. The firm's revenue was up 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Universal Health Services has set its FY 2025 guidance at 20.000-21.000 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 16th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 2nd were given a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 2nd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.4%. Universal Health Services's payout ratio is currently 4.21%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Universal Health Services from $215.00 to $195.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, August 4th. Wall Street Zen lowered Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, September 13th. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on Universal Health Services from $243.00 to $203.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, August 14th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on Universal Health Services from $225.00 to $210.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, August 14th. Finally, UBS Group set a $227.00 price target on Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Universal Health Services currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $214.08.

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.