Guggenheim Capital LLC Sells 5,517 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Guggenheim Capital LLC lowered its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 64.6% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 3,017 shares of the health services provider's stock after selling 5,517 shares during the period. Guggenheim Capital LLC's holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $541,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of UHS. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its stake in Universal Health Services by 22.5% in the fourth quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 54,105 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $9,721,000 after acquiring an additional 9,946 shares during the period. Savant Capital LLC increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 255.3% in the fourth quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 6,345 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $1,138,000 after purchasing an additional 4,559 shares in the last quarter. Abacus Planning Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 175.6% during the fourth quarter. Abacus Planning Group Inc. now owns 2,792 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $501,000 after acquiring an additional 1,779 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,197,537 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $274,248,000 after purchasing an additional 10,578 shares during the period. Finally, Empirical Finance LLC lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 43.3% in the fourth quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 8,176 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $1,467,000 after buying an additional 2,472 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $249.00 to $257.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 10th. Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded Universal Health Services from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Baird R W cut Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Finally, Stephens increased their target price on Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $224.77.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total value of $179,160.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 7,916 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,418,230.56. This trade represents a 11.22 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 16.40% of the company's stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE UHS traded up $0.24 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $177.31. The company had a trading volume of 132,274 shares, compared to its average volume of 747,393. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.21. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $153.99 and a 1-year high of $243.25. The firm's 50 day moving average is $176.62 and its 200-day moving average is $188.66. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $4.84 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.36 by $0.48. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The company had revenue of $4.10 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.16 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.70 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect 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 was paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd were issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.45%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 3rd. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio is currently 4.75%.

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.