Brevan Howard Capital Management LP Sells 3,807 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Brevan Howard Capital Management LP lessened its stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 52.9% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,389 shares of the health services provider's stock after selling 3,807 shares during the period. Brevan Howard Capital Management LP's holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $608,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

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

Insider Activity at Universal Health Services

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

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

UHS stock traded up $0.71 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $192.26. 733,444 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 754,078. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.78, a P/E/G ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $177.08 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $185.56. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12 month low of $153.99 and a 12 month high of $243.25.

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

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd were paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.42%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 3rd. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 4.49%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. Robert W. Baird reissued a "neutral" rating and set a $224.00 price objective (down from $274.00) on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Barclays boosted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $249.00 to $257.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 29th. Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target 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. Finally, Guggenheim began coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $208.00 price target on the stock. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Universal Health Services presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $224.77.

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.