Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Shares Sold by National Bank of Canada FI

Key Points

• National Bank of Canada FI reduced its stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. by 45.0%, now holding 44,271 shares worth approximately $8.32 million.
• The company reported $5.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the last quarter, exceeding analysts' expectations and showing a 9.6% year-over-year revenue increase.
• Universal Health Services declared a quarterly dividend of $0.20, with an annualized yield of 0.5%, highlighting a low payout ratio of 4.21%.

National Bank of Canada FI cut its stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 45.0% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 44,271 shares of the health services provider's stock after selling 36,198 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FI owned approximately 0.07% of Universal Health Services worth $8,319,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Northern Trust Corp lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 7.6% in the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 596,280 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $106,985,000 after acquiring an additional 42,088 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 59.4% in the fourth quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 590,389 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $105,928,000 after acquiring an additional 219,942 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 3.5% in the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 504,804 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $94,853,000 after acquiring an additional 16,900 shares during the last quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 119.1% in the fourth quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP now owns 322,163 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $57,802,000 after acquiring an additional 175,131 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 6.1% in the first quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 271,393 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $50,995,000 after acquiring an additional 15,565 shares during the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of UHS stock traded down $0.43 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $178.31. 747,943 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,053,823. 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, Inc. has a 12-month low of $152.33 and a 12-month high of $243.25. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $173.42 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $178.77. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.39, a P/E/G ratio of 0.74 and a beta of 1.24.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, July 28th. The health services provider reported $5.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $4.85 by $0.50. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 18.25% and a net margin of 7.66%. The firm had revenue of $4.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.24 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $4.31 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared 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. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 2nd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.4%. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 4.21%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UHS has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $211.00 to $201.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Barclays boosted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $257.00 to $259.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on Universal Health Services from $225.00 to $210.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. Stephens upgraded Universal Health Services to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Finally, Bank of America cut Universal Health Services from a "neutral" rating to an "underperform" rating and reduced their price objective 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 six have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $213.77.

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.