2,071 Shares in Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS Bought by Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC

Key Points

• Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC has acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) worth approximately $389,000, purchasing 2,071 shares in the first quarter of the year.
• Universal Health Services recently reported earnings per share of $5.35 for the quarter, exceeding analysts' expectations, and has set its FY 2025 guidance at 20.000-21.000 EPS.
• The company also announced a quarterly dividend of $0.20 per share, indicating a modest dividend yield of 0.4% and a payout ratio of 4.21%.

Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 2,071 shares of the health services provider's stock, valued at approximately $389,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Freestone Grove Partners LP purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter valued at about $41,155,000. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of 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 buying an additional 219,942 shares during the period. Twinbeech Capital LP boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 1,151.1% in the 4th quarter. Twinbeech Capital LP now owns 152,454 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $27,353,000 after buying an additional 140,268 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 16,935.6% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 138,670 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $26,056,000 after buying an additional 137,856 shares during the period. Finally, Nuveen LLC purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter valued at about $25,555,000. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Bank of America cut Universal Health Services from a "neutral" rating to an "underperform" rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $215.00 to $185.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Universal Health Services from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Saturday. 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 note on Tuesday, August 19th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated a "neutral" rating and set a $227.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Universal Health Services from $215.00 to $195.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, August 4th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $214.77.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

UHS traded up $0.90 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $182.35. 672,578 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 852,670. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.60, a PEG ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 1.24. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $152.33 and a 1-year high of $243.25. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $175.06 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $178.45. The company has a quick ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64.

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 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.85 by $0.50. The company had revenue of $4.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.24 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 18.25% and a net margin of 7.66%.The firm's revenue was up 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $4.31 earnings per share. Universal Health Services has set its FY 2025 guidance at 20.000-21.000 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 16th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 2nd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.4%. Universal Health Services's 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.