Mount Lucas Management LP Has $1.79 Million Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Mount Lucas Management LP increased its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 115.8% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 9,526 shares of the health services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 5,111 shares during the period. Mount Lucas Management LP's holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $1,790,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in UHS. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its stake in shares of 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 valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 67 shares during the last quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 5.9% in the 4th quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,266 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $227,000 after acquiring an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 15,512 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $2,783,000 after acquiring an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc lifted its stake in shares of 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 valued at $247,000 after acquiring an additional 82 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd raised its position in Universal Health Services by 1.2% during 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 purchasing an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 3.6%

Shares of UHS stock opened at $162.66 on Wednesday. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $182.99 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $181.40. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52 week low of $153.99 and a 52 week high of $243.25. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The stock 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 (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $4.84 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 the consensus estimate of $4.16 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 7.44% and a return on equity of 17.79%. The firm's revenue was up 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $3.70 EPS. Analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 16th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 2nd will be issued a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 2nd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.49%. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio is currently 4.49%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have weighed in on UHS. Barclays increased their price target on Universal Health Services from $249.00 to $257.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 29th. Morgan Stanley started coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, March 26th. They issued an "equal weight" rating and a $200.00 target price for the company. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their target price on Universal Health Services from $211.00 to $201.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. Robert W. Baird reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $224.00 price target (down previously from $274.00) on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, April 15th. Finally, Bank of America downgraded Universal Health Services from a "neutral" rating to an "underperform" rating and cut their price target for the company from $215.00 to $185.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Universal Health Services presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $221.85.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,097 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.48, for a total transaction of $210,053.56. Following the sale, the director owned 7,884 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,509,628.32. This trade represents a 12.21% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 16.40% of the company's stock.

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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