Assenagon Asset Management S.A. Decreases Stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

Key Points

• Assenagon Asset Management cut its Universal Health Services stake by 50.2% in the second quarter, selling 44,340 shares and retaining 44,000 shares valued at approximately $6.5 million. Institutional investors collectively own 86.05% of UHS.
• UHS reported quarterly EPS of $5.98, slightly above estimates, while revenue rose 8.3% year over year to $4.64 billion. The company also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.20 per share, equating to a 0.5% yield.
• Analyst sentiment remains cautious: several firms lowered their price targets, and Zacks reduced multiple future EPS forecasts, including its 2027 and 2028 estimates. The stock carries a consensus “Hold” rating with an average target price of $204.93.

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. cut its stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 50.2% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 44,000 shares of the health services provider's stock after selling 44,340 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. owned 0.07% of Universal Health Services worth $6,542,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of UHS. Pzena Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 31.5% in the fourth quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 2,112,604 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $460,590,000 after buying an additional 505,575 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 12.1% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,781,262 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $318,812,000 after acquiring an additional 192,351 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,226,577 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $219,520,000 after acquiring an additional 20,577 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth about $199,334,000. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 59.5% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 871,377 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $189,978,000 after acquiring an additional 325,162 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company's stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 2.2%

Universal Health Services stock opened at $168.95 on Wednesday. The business's 50-day moving average price is $153.54 and its 200 day moving average price is $176.43. The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. The firm has a market cap of $10.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.94 and a beta of 1.05. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52 week low of $140.08 and a 52 week high of $246.32.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 28th. The health services provider reported $5.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $5.94 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $4.64 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.58 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.39% and a net margin of 8.42%.Universal Health Services's revenue for the quarter was up 8.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $5.35 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 23.16 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 1st will be paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 1st. Universal Health Services's payout ratio is currently 3.26%.

Universal Health Services News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Universal Health Services this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research raised its fiscal 2026 earnings estimate slightly to $23.07 per share from $23.04. However, the new forecast remains just below the broader consensus estimate of $23.15.
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks reduced its Q3 2026 EPS forecast to $5.48 from $5.63 and its Q4 2026 estimate to $5.99 from $6.30. The combined revisions point to weaker-than-previously-expected near-term earnings momentum.
• Negative Sentiment: Forward estimates were also trimmed for Q1 2027 EPS to $5.77 from $5.93, Q3 2027 EPS to $6.10 from $6.21, and Q4 2027 EPS to $6.42 from $6.53. Zacks lowered its full-year 2027 forecast to $24.25 from $24.59.
• Negative Sentiment: Longer-term expectations weakened as well: Q1 2028 EPS was cut to $6.27 from $6.35, Q2 2028 EPS to $6.56 from $6.57, and fiscal 2028 EPS to $26.47 from $27.10. The broad pattern of estimate reductions is the primary negative catalyst for UHS today.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UHS has been the topic of a number of research reports. Wall Street Zen lowered Universal Health Services from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, May 2nd. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on Universal Health Services from $212.00 to $191.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $194.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday, July 28th. Barclays cut their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $179.00 to $168.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $242.00 to $190.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $204.93.

Universal Health Services Company Profile

Universal Health Services, Inc NYSE: UHS is one of the largest diversified health care management companies in the United States, offering a broad spectrum of services through its acute care hospital and behavioral health segments. The company operates general acute care hospitals, surgical hospitals and ambulatory centers, as well as inpatient and outpatient behavioral health facilities. Its network provides emergency and specialized medicine, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, advanced surgical care and rehabilitation, complemented by a comprehensive array of behavioral services including psychiatric treatment, addiction programs and developmental disabilities care.

In the acute care segment, UHS's facilities deliver services ranging from emergency department treatment and intensive care to maternity care and outpatient surgery.

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UHS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report).

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.

Continue following MarketBeat

Add MarketBeat as your preferred source on Google to see our latest stories in your feed.

Add As Preferred Source