Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund Acquires 3,848 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 7.6% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 54,399 shares of the health services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,848 shares during the period. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund owned about 0.08% of Universal Health Services worth $9,760,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 102.0% during 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 during the period. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd purchased a new position in Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth $18,709,000. Mizuho Securities USA LLC increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 2,101.2% during the 3rd quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC now owns 101,188 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $23,173,000 after purchasing an additional 96,591 shares during the period. World Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter worth $21,557,000. Finally, Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 70.8% during the 3rd quarter. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC now owns 214,379 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $49,095,000 after purchasing an additional 88,872 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total transaction of $308,516.10. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 5,879 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,123,770.85. The trade was a 21.54 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 4.3 %

Shares of UHS stock opened at $189.30 on Wednesday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $152.68 and a 1-year high of $243.25. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $184.35 and its 200 day moving average price is $205.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28. The company has a market cap of $12.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.30.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm 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 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.42%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 5.32%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have commented on the company. StockNews.com downgraded Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, November 9th. Bank of America started coverage on Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 price objective on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their price target for the company from $228.00 to $198.00 in a report on Monday, December 16th. 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. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $226.14.

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.