Gateway Investment Advisers LLC Lowers Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Gateway Investment Advisers LLC cut its position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 39.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 28,725 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 18,560 shares during the quarter. Gateway Investment Advisers LLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $5,154,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Cerity Partners LLC raised its position in Universal Health Services by 86.4% in the third quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 21,047 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $4,820,000 after purchasing an additional 9,755 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings 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 worth $274,248,000 after acquiring an additional 10,578 shares in the last quarter. Vestcor Inc increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 1,436.5% in the third quarter. Vestcor Inc now owns 54,070 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $12,383,000 after buying an additional 50,551 shares during the last quarter. Eagle Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $13,496,000. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 4.0% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,661,530 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $379,403,000 after purchasing an additional 63,754 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total value of $308,516.10. Following the sale, the director now owns 5,879 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,123,770.85. The trade was a 21.54 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of Universal Health Services stock opened at $184.86 on Friday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $150.11 and a 1-year high of $243.25. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $190.31 and a 200-day simple moving average of $207.24. 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 capitalization of $12.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.29, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.30.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings results 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 business had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.90 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.55 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd were issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.43%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 3rd. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is presently 5.32%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently issued reports on UHS shares. TD Cowen cut their price target on Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Bank of America initiated coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 target price for the company. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 25th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $222.00 to $211.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 28th. Finally, KeyCorp assumed coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 11th. They issued a “sector weight” rating for the company. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $226.14.

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.