GAMMA Investing LLC Increases Stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 16,935.6% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 138,670 shares of the health services provider's stock after buying an additional 137,856 shares during the quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC owned approximately 0.21% of Universal Health Services worth $26,056,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. First Eagle Investment Management LLC increased its stake in Universal Health Services by 1.0% in the fourth quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 4,675,182 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $838,821,000 after purchasing an additional 44,099 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.1% in the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,713,572 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $306,776,000 after purchasing an additional 52,042 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. increased its stake in Universal Health Services by 25.6% in the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,241,340 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $222,721,000 after buying an additional 253,385 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in Universal Health Services by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,197,537 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $274,248,000 after buying an additional 10,578 shares during the period. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 4.7% during the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 624,143 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $111,984,000 after buying an additional 27,903 shares in the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 0.2%

Shares of UHS traded up $0.37 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $189.46. The company had a trading volume of 379,386 shares, compared to its average volume of 753,906. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The company has a market capitalization of $12.32 billion, a PE ratio of 12.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.31. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a one year low of $153.99 and a one year high of $243.25. The company's fifty day moving average price is $182.08 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $183.79.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $4.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.36 by $0.48. The company 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 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The firm'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 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 2nd will be given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 2nd. Universal Health Services's payout ratio is currently 4.49%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,097 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.48, for a total transaction of $210,053.56. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 7,884 shares in the company, valued at $1,509,628.32. The trade was a 12.21% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 16.40% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have commented on UHS shares. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $211.00 to $201.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. Barclays boosted their price target on Universal Health Services from $249.00 to $257.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 29th. Baird R W downgraded Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, March 10th. Finally, Stephens raised Universal Health Services to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, June 2nd. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $224.77.

Universal Health Services 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.