Los Angeles Capital Management LLC Sells 88,428 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Los Angeles Capital Management LLC lowered its position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 32.7% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 182,331 shares of the health services provider's stock after selling 88,428 shares during the quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC owned about 0.28% of Universal Health Services worth $34,260,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Lindbrook Capital LLC grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 939.4% during the 1st quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 1,029 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $193,000 after purchasing an additional 930 shares during the period. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 2.2% in the 1st quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 4,483 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $843,000 after purchasing an additional 98 shares in the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 6.7% during the 1st quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 1,315 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $247,000 after acquiring an additional 82 shares in the last quarter. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 73.5% during the 1st quarter. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd now owns 180,923 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $33,995,000 after acquiring an additional 76,648 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter valued at $226,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,097 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.48, for a total transaction of $210,053.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 7,884 shares in the company, valued at $1,509,628.32. This trade represents 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 hyperlink. Insiders own 16.40% of the company's stock.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 3.6%

Shares of UHS stock traded down $6.09 on Tuesday, hitting $162.66. The stock had a trading volume of 1,734,178 shares, compared to its average volume of 788,371. The firm has a market cap of $10.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.13, a PEG ratio of 0.74 and a beta of 1.28. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a twelve month low of $153.99 and a twelve month high of $243.25. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $182.99 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $181.40. The company has a current ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $4.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $4.36 by $0.48. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 7.44% and a return on equity of 17.79%. The company had revenue of $4.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.16 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $3.70 EPS. Universal Health Services's quarterly revenue was up 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, 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 announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 16th. Investors 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 yield of 0.49%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 2nd. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio is presently 4.49%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on UHS. Stephens raised Universal Health Services to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, June 2nd. Robert W. Baird reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $224.00 price target (down from $274.00) on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday, April 15th. Morgan Stanley started coverage on Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, March 26th. They issued an "equal weight" rating and a $200.00 price objective for the company. Guggenheim assumed coverage on Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $208.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Barclays lifted their price target on Universal Health Services from $249.00 to $257.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 29th. One research 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 stock has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $221.85.

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.