88,555 Shares in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Bought by Distillate Capital Partners LLC

Distillate Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 88,555 shares of the health services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $15,889,000. Distillate Capital Partners LLC owned about 0.13% of Universal Health Services at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of UHS. R Squared Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Quent Capital LLC lifted its stake in Universal Health Services by 118.3% in the fourth quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 179 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. Campbell Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter worth approximately $46,000. Huntington National Bank grew its position in Universal Health Services by 55.6% in the fourth quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 280 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $50,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter worth $69,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total value of $179,160.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 7,916 shares in the company, valued at $1,418,230.56. The trade was a 11.22 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 1.8 %

UHS stock opened at $175.05 on Friday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a twelve month low of $152.69 and a twelve month high of $243.25. 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 company has a market cap of $11.38 billion, a PE ratio of 11.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.21. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $179.93 and its 200 day simple moving average is $192.84.

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

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UHS has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Guggenheim assumed coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday. They issued a “buy” rating and a $208.00 price objective for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $226.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday, December 17th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, March 10th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $228.00 to $198.00 in a report on Monday, December 16th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Universal Health Services currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $226.93.

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.