Acadian Asset Management LLC Buys 18,715 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

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 stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 96.6% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 38,087 shares of the health services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 18,715 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC owned 0.06% of Universal Health Services worth $7,151,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT acquired a new position in Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Sentry Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at approximately $35,000. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its stake in Universal Health Services by 49.3% in the first quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 203 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 67 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc. lifted its stake in Universal Health Services by 89.7% in the first quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 258 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $48,000 after buying an additional 122 shares during the period. Finally, CX Institutional acquired a new position in Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at approximately $74,000. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Universal Health Services from $225.00 to $210.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, August 14th. Barclays upped their target price on Universal Health Services from $257.00 to $259.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on Universal Health Services from $215.00 to $195.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, August 4th. Robert W. Baird lowered their target price on Universal Health Services from $243.00 to $203.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, August 14th. Finally, Bank of America lowered Universal Health Services from a "neutral" rating to an "underperform" rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $215.00 to $185.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 16th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $214.77.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 0.5%

Shares of Universal Health Services stock opened at $191.80 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $176.16 and a 200 day simple moving average of $178.64. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12-month low of $152.33 and a 12-month high of $243.25. The company has a market capitalization of $12.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a current ratio of 1.29, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64.

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

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 16th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 2nd will be paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 2nd. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio is 4.21%.

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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