AustralianSuper Pty Ltd Makes New Investment in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

AustralianSuper Pty Ltd bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund bought 104,275 shares of the health services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $18,709,000. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd owned about 0.16% of Universal Health Services as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. CWM LLC boosted its stake in Universal Health Services by 373.1% during the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 4,457 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $1,021,000 after purchasing an additional 3,515 shares during the last quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter worth $411,000. Creative Planning boosted its stake in Universal Health Services by 15.0% during the 3rd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 6,644 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $1,521,000 after purchasing an additional 869 shares during the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 28.7% during the 3rd quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 7,076 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $1,620,000 after acquiring an additional 1,578 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter valued at about $234,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 0.6 %

UHS stock opened at $181.69 on Friday. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $185.02 and its 200 day moving average price is $207.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.39. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $152.68 and a fifty-two week high of $243.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.08, a PEG ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 1.30.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd will be paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.44%. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is 5.32%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UHS has been the topic of several recent research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $226.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday, December 17th. TD Cowen lowered their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their price target 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, StockNews.com lowered shares of Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, November 9th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $226.14.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total value of $308,516.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 5,879 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,123,770.85. This represents a 21.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

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.