Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. Increases Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 1.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 603,705 shares of the health services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 11,353 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc.’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $138,254,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Point72 Asset Management L.P. raised its holdings in Universal Health Services by 362.3% during the second quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 322,626 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $59,663,000 after acquiring an additional 252,846 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 357.9% during the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 261,221 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $48,308,000 after purchasing an additional 204,178 shares in the last quarter. Goldentree Asset Management LP purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the first quarter worth about $21,378,000. Mackenzie Financial Corp raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 408.2% during the 2nd quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 140,561 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $25,994,000 after purchasing an additional 112,902 shares during the period. Finally, Los Angeles Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 102.0% in the 3rd quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 210,926 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $48,304,000 after purchasing an additional 106,517 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on UHS shares. TD Cowen cut their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $283.00 to $275.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $229.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 30th. KeyCorp started coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Friday, October 11th. They set a “sector weight” rating for the company. Cantor Fitzgerald restated a “neutral” rating and set a $219.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their target price 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. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $231.14.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of Universal Health Services stock opened at $197.94 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $13.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.39. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $218.02 and a 200-day moving average price of $206.61. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a one year low of $133.70 and a one year high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.75 by ($0.04). Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The firm had revenue of $3.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.90 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.55 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.93 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 3rd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.40%. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is 5.32%.

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.