Vanguard Group Inc. Lowers Stock Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Vanguard Group Inc. lowered its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 1.4% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 6,983,286 shares of the health services provider's stock after selling 97,017 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. owned 10.74% of Universal Health Services worth $1,312,159,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 71.0% in the 4th quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 66,995 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $12,020,000 after buying an additional 27,819 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 10.3% in the 4th quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 65,992 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $11,840,000 after buying an additional 6,169 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter worth $29,301,000. Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 1.3% in the 4th quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 20,496 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $3,677,000 after buying an additional 267 shares during the period. Finally, Treasurer of the State of North Carolina lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 53,658 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $9,627,000 after buying an additional 916 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have weighed in on UHS. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered their target price 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. Robert W. Baird set a $203.00 price objective on Universal Health Services and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $225.00 to $210.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday. Wall Street Zen cut Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Sunday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective 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. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $213.77.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Universal Health Services stock traded up $0.28 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $178.79. 509,901 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 849,116. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.62 billion, a PE ratio of 9.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 1.24. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $152.33 and a fifty-two week high of $243.25. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $173.85 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $178.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a current ratio of 1.29.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last posted its 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 firm 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%. Universal Health Services's revenue for the quarter was up 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $4.31 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 2nd. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio (DPR) 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.