Rhumbline Advisers Grows Stock Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Rhumbline Advisers increased its holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 35.3% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 133,140 shares of the health services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 34,762 shares during the quarter. Rhumbline Advisers owned approximately 0.20% of Universal Health Services worth $25,017,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in UHS. Choreo LLC grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.4% in the 4th quarter. Choreo LLC now owns 1,822 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $325,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 2.2% during the fourth quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 3,060 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $549,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the period. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. increased its holdings in 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 worth $227,000 after acquiring an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. Platinum Investment Management Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 17.6% in the fourth quarter. Platinum Investment Management Ltd. now owns 488 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $88,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares in the last quarter. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in Universal Health Services by 0.5% during 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 period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company's stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

UHS stock traded down $11.58 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $177.81. 1,333,146 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 756,223. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52-week low of $153.99 and a 52-week high of $243.25. The stock's 50-day moving average is $182.08 and its 200 day moving average is $183.79. The stock has a market cap of $11.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.82, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $4.84 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $4.36 by $0.48. The business had revenue of $4.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.16 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The company's revenue was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $3.70 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 16th. Investors of record on Monday, June 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 2nd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.45%. Universal Health Services's payout ratio is 4.49%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Robert W. Baird reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $224.00 price target (down from $274.00) on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Stephens raised Universal Health Services to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, June 2nd. Barclays raised 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. 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. Finally, Guggenheim began coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. They set a "buy" rating and a $208.00 price target on the stock. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $224.77.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,097 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred 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 sale, the director now directly owns 7,884 shares in the company, valued at $1,509,628.32. This represents a 12.21% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. 16.40% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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.