PGGM Investments Has $1.70 Million Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

PGGM Investments lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 176.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 9,206 shares of the health services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 5,879 shares during the quarter. PGGM Investments’ holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $1,702,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of UHS. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. bought a new stake in Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter valued at $32,000. Mather Group LLC. acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new position in Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter worth approximately $36,000. Denali Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter worth approximately $37,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $42,000. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In related news, Director Eileen C. Mcdonnell sold 2,535 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.55, for a total transaction of $531,209.25. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 6,413 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,343,844.15. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, Director Nina Chen-Langenmayr sold 850 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $212.11, for a total transaction of $180,293.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 1,985 shares in the company, valued at $421,038.35. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Eileen C. Mcdonnell sold 2,535 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.55, for a total value of $531,209.25. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 6,413 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,343,844.15. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 21,970 shares of company stock valued at $4,653,535 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UHS has been the subject of several analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $255.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 30th. TD Cowen upped their price objective on Universal Health Services from $183.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, July 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $229.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $247.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald raised shares of Universal Health Services from an “underweight” rating to a “neutral” rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $162.00 to $219.00 in a research report on Friday, July 26th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $219.46.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

NYSE UHS traded up $0.58 on Thursday, reaching $222.43. The stock had a trading volume of 131,953 shares, compared to its average volume of 656,326. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.28 and a quick ratio of 1.17. The company has a market cap of $14.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.28. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $194.44 and a two-hundred day moving average of $179.34. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $119.90 and a 1-year high of $224.34.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The health services provider reported $4.31 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.37 by $0.94. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.22% and a return on equity of 14.91%. The business had revenue of $3.91 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.87 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.53 earnings per share. Universal Health Services’s revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.88 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services announced that its board has authorized a share buyback program on Wednesday, July 24th that allows the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the health services provider to purchase up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are generally a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 3rd will be given a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.36%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 6.78%.

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.