AustralianSuper Pty Ltd Has $34 Million Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

AustralianSuper Pty Ltd grew its position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 73.5% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 180,923 shares of the health services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 76,648 shares during the period. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd owned 0.28% of Universal Health Services worth $33,995,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 99.2% in the 4th quarter. D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. now owns 12,450 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $2,234,000 after buying an additional 6,200 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 30.6% during the 4th quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 12,858 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $2,307,000 after buying an additional 3,011 shares in the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter valued at about $1,141,000. Brown Advisory Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 5.4% in the 1st quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. now owns 5,152 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $968,000 after purchasing an additional 264 shares during the period. Finally, CX Institutional bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter valued at about $74,000. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company's stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:UHS traded down $1.83 during trading on Friday, hitting $168.99. 630,487 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 785,815. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $182.99 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $181.39. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52-week low of $153.99 and a 52-week high of $243.25. The company has a market cap of $10.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.48, a P/E/G ratio of 0.74 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $4.84 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.36 by $0.48. The business had revenue of $4.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.16 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 17.79% and a net margin of 7.44%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $3.70 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 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 0.47%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 2nd. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio is presently 4.49%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Baird R W cut shares of Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Guggenheim assumed coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $208.00 price target on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered their price target on shares of 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. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $249.00 to $257.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 29th. Finally, Bank of America cut shares of 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 report on Wednesday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $221.85.

Insider Activity at Universal Health Services

In related news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,097 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.48, for a total value of $210,053.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 7,884 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,509,628.32. This represents a 12.21% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 16.40% of the company's stock.

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.