Bank of Montreal Can Boosts Stock Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Bank of Montreal Can grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 10.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 65,992 shares of the health services provider’s stock after buying an additional 6,169 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can owned 0.10% of Universal Health Services worth $11,840,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. R Squared Ltd purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter valued at about $29,000. Quent Capital LLC lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 118.3% in the 4th quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 179 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. Campbell Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth about $46,000. Huntington National Bank increased its position in Universal Health Services by 55.6% during the 4th quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 280 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $50,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the third quarter valued at approximately $69,000. 86.05% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on UHS shares. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, March 26th. They issued an “equal weight” rating and a $200.00 price objective for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $226.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Guggenheim assumed coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday. They set a “buy” rating and a $208.00 price target for the company. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $228.77.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total value of $179,160.00. Following the sale, 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 filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 1.8 %

Shares of NYSE UHS opened at $175.05 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $179.93 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $192.84. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52-week low of $152.69 and a 52-week high of $243.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.64, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.21.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.21 by $0.71. The firm had revenue of $4.11 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.01 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. On average, analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd were paid a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.46%. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is currently 4.75%.

Universal Health Services 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.