Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS Shares Sold by Empowered Funds LLC

Key Points

• Empowered Funds LLC has decreased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 3.0%, owning 44,707 shares worth approximately $8.4 million after selling 1,384 shares in the first quarter.
• Several institutional investors have adjusted their positions in Universal Health Services, with D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. significantly increasing its holdings by 99.2% during the fourth quarter.
• Universal Health Services recently reported a strong quarterly earnings result, with earnings per share (EPS) of $5.35, exceeding analysts' estimates of $4.85.

Empowered Funds LLC cut its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 3.0% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 44,707 shares of the health services provider's stock after selling 1,384 shares during the quarter. Empowered Funds LLC owned about 0.07% of Universal Health Services worth $8,400,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. UMB Bank n.a. increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 49.3% in the 1st quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 203 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 2.7% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 2,665 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $501,000 after buying an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 13,328 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $2,504,000 after buying an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 6.7% in the 1st quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 1,315 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $247,000 after buying an additional 82 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 1.2% in the 1st quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 7,338 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $1,379,000 after buying an additional 85 shares in the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $201.00 to $206.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 19th. Robert W. Baird cut 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. Stephens raised Universal Health Services to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, June 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective 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, Wall Street Zen cut Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Saturday. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $214.77.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of UHS traded down $1.39 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $190.33. 189,475 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 830,894. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a current ratio of 1.29. 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 cap of $12.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 1.28. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $176.16 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $178.59.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, July 28th. The health services provider reported $5.35 earnings per share 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 business had revenue of $4.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.24 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $4.31 EPS. The company'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. Research analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced 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 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 2nd. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio (DPR) 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.