GSA Capital Partners LLP Acquires New Shares in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

GSA Capital Partners LLP acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 3,644 shares of the health services provider's stock, valued at approximately $685,000.

Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted 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 buying an additional 52,042 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 25.6% during the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,241,340 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $222,721,000 after acquiring an additional 253,385 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp lifted its stake in Universal Health Services by 7.6% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 596,280 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $106,985,000 after purchasing an additional 42,088 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 59.4% in the 4th quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 590,389 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $105,928,000 after purchasing an additional 219,942 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.5% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 504,804 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $94,853,000 after purchasing an additional 16,900 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UHS has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Robert W. Baird reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $224.00 price target (down previously from $274.00) on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Bank of America lowered Universal Health Services from a "neutral" rating to an "underperform" rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $215.00 to $185.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th. Barclays lifted their price target on Universal Health Services from $257.00 to $259.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price objective on Universal Health Services from $211.00 to $201.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Finally, Baird R W downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $218.92.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

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

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UHS opened at $162.98 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64. The stock has a market cap of $10.59 billion, a PE ratio of 8.58, a PEG ratio of 0.67 and a beta of 1.24. The company's fifty day moving average is $176.95 and its 200 day moving average is $179.85. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52 week low of $152.33 and a 52 week high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, July 28th. The health services provider reported $5.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $4.85 by $0.50. The firm had revenue of $4.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.24 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 18.22% and a net margin of 7.66%. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $4.31 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share 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 paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend 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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