WBI Investments LLC Cuts Stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

Key Points

• WBI Investments LLC significantly reduced its stake in Universal Health Services by 65.6%, owning only 1,373 shares after selling 2,622 shares in the first quarter, now valued at approximately $258,000.
• Several institutional investors increased their positions in Universal Health Services, with AQR Capital Management LLC notably raising its stake by 57.8%.
• Universal Health Services reported quarterly earnings of $5.35 per share, exceeding analysts' expectations, and announced a quarterly dividend of $0.20, reflecting a 0.4% dividend yield.

WBI Investments LLC cut its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 65.6% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,373 shares of the health services provider's stock after selling 2,622 shares during the quarter. WBI Investments LLC's holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $258,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in UHS. Invesco Ltd. boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 6.0% in the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,315,468 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $247,176,000 after purchasing an additional 74,128 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 9.0% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,241,738 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $233,311,000 after purchasing an additional 102,137 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 57.8% during the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 931,355 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $173,381,000 after purchasing an additional 340,966 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 634,592 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $119,240,000 after purchasing an additional 10,449 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.5% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 504,804 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $94,853,000 after purchasing an additional 16,900 shares during the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have commented on UHS shares. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $201.00 to $206.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 19th. Stephens raised shares of Universal Health Services to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, June 2nd. Bank of America cut shares of Universal Health Services from a "neutral" rating to an "underperform" rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $215.00 to $185.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 16th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Universal Health Services from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, August 23rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $215.00 to $195.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, August 4th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $214.77.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UHS opened at $190.60 on Friday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12 month low of $152.33 and a 12 month high of $243.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 1.29 and a quick ratio of 1.19. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.04, a P/E/G ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 1.28. The company's fifty day moving average price is $176.24 and its 200 day moving average price is $178.62.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, July 28th. The health services provider reported $5.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.85 by $0.50. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 7.66% and a return on equity of 18.25%. The company had revenue of $4.28 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.24 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $4.31 EPS. Universal Health Services's revenue for the quarter was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. Universal Health Services has set its FY 2025 guidance at 20.000-21.000 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 2nd will be issued a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 2nd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.4%. Universal Health Services's payout ratio is presently 4.21%.

Universal Health Services Company 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.

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