Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Position Lifted by First Citizens Bank & Trust Co.

First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. increased its position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 312.7% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 31,453 shares of the health services provider's stock after buying an additional 23,831 shares during the period. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co.'s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $5,910,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 7.7% during the 1st quarter. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC now owns 43,395 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $8,154,000 after buying an additional 3,092 shares during the period. Park Avenue Securities LLC grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 87.4% during the 1st quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 5,405 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $1,016,000 after acquiring an additional 2,521 shares in the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 49.3% during the first quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 203 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. Procyon Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at $319,000. Finally, Chesley Taft & Associates LLC acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at $351,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. Baird R W downgraded Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $211.00 to $201.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 10th. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $249.00 to $257.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 29th. Finally, Guggenheim assumed coverage on Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $208.00 target price for the company. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $224.77.

Insider Activity

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,097 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.48, for a total value of $210,053.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 7,884 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,509,628.32. This represents a 12.21% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 16.40% of the company's stock.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 0.7%

NYSE:UHS traded up $1.23 on Thursday, reaching $173.52. The stock had a trading volume of 684,013 shares, compared to its average volume of 759,984. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12-month low of $153.99 and a 12-month high of $243.25. The company has a market cap of $11.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.54, a P/E/G ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.31. The firm's fifty day moving average is $181.49 and its two-hundred day moving average is $183.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28.

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

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 2nd will be paid a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 2nd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.46%. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 4.49%.

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.