Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd Trims Stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd lowered its holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 60.6% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 7,627 shares of the health services provider's stock after selling 11,747 shares during the quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd's holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $1,433,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. Sentry Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter valued at $35,000. UMB Bank n.a. raised its position in Universal Health Services by 49.3% in the 1st quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 203 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 67 shares during the last quarter. Huntington National Bank lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 55.6% during the fourth quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 280 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $50,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. CX Institutional purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter worth $74,000. Finally, Canada Post Corp Registered Pension Plan purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter worth about $96,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,097 shares of the firm'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 sale, the director owned 7,884 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,509,628.32. This trade represents a 12.21% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 16.40% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on UHS shares. Stephens raised shares of Universal Health Services to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, June 2nd. Robert W. Baird reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $224.00 price target (down previously from $274.00) on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $211.00 to $201.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. Bank of America downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a "neutral" rating to an "underperform" rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $215.00 to $185.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 16th. Finally, Baird R W downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $221.85.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of UHS traded down $0.15 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $155.32. 1,187,511 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 848,690. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.32. The company has a market cap of $10.10 billion, a PE ratio of 8.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 1.28. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52-week low of $152.96 and a 52-week high of $243.25. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $179.79 and a two-hundred day moving average of $180.63.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $4.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $4.36 by $0.48. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 7.44% and a return on equity of 17.79%. The company had revenue of $4.10 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.16 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $3.70 earnings per share. Universal Health Services's revenue was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict 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. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.52%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 2nd. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio is currently 4.49%.

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.