Nisa Investment Advisors LLC Acquires 12,387 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Nisa Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 61.8% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 32,429 shares of the health services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 12,387 shares during the quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $7,427,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of UHS. Point72 Asset Management L.P. boosted its position in Universal Health Services by 362.3% during the 2nd quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 322,626 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $59,663,000 after acquiring an additional 252,846 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP boosted its position in Universal Health Services by 357.9% during the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 261,221 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $48,308,000 after acquiring an additional 204,178 shares during the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Universal Health Services by 1,191.8% during the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 215,215 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $39,267,000 after acquiring an additional 198,555 shares during the last quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC acquired a new position in Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,032,000. Finally, Pzena Investment Management LLC boosted its position in Universal Health Services by 41.2% during the 1st quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 455,773 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $83,160,000 after acquiring an additional 132,942 shares during the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 0.8 %

UHS opened at $207.58 on Thursday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $123.80 and a 1-year high of $243.25. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $228.25 and its 200 day simple moving average is $201.80. 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 stock has a market cap of $13.85 billion, a PE ratio of 13.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.67 and a beta of 1.27.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.75 by ($0.04). The business had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.90 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The firm’s revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.55 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.9 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services declared that its Board of Directors has approved a share buyback program on Wednesday, July 24th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the health services provider to buy up to 8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are usually a sign that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $217.64, for a total transaction of $749,552.16. Following the transaction, the director now owns 3,971 shares in the company, valued at $864,248.44. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Universal Health Services news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $217.64, for a total transaction of $749,552.16. Following the transaction, the director now owns 3,971 shares in the company, valued at $864,248.44. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Nina Chen-Langenmayr sold 850 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.11, for a total value of $180,293.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 1,985 shares in the company, valued at $421,038.35. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UHS has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. UBS Group upped their price target on Universal Health Services from $247.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. StockNews.com raised Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, October 19th. Barclays increased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. TD Cowen cut their price objective on Universal Health Services from $283.00 to $275.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $219.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Friday, October 25th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Universal Health Services has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $231.00.

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.