12,200 Shares in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Purchased by Zacks Investment Management

Zacks Investment Management acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 12,200 shares of the health services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $2,794,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Cetera Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $642,000. Cerity Partners LLC boosted its holdings 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 worth $4,820,000 after purchasing an additional 9,755 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its stake in Universal Health Services by 134.2% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 8,744 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $1,595,000 after purchasing an additional 5,010 shares during the last quarter. Eagle Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in Universal Health Services during the third quarter valued at $13,496,000. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 174.3% during the third quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 41,623 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $9,532,000 after purchasing an additional 26,447 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Bank of America started coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $223.00 price target for the company. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 25th. UBS Group raised their price target on Universal Health Services from $247.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 14th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald restated a “neutral” rating and set a $219.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Six 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. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $225.50.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 0.9 %

UHS opened at $194.22 on Monday. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $210.73 and its 200-day moving average is $208.11. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a one year low of $133.70 and a one year high of $243.25. The company has a market capitalization of $12.81 billion, a PE ratio of 12.91, a P/E/G ratio of 0.62 and a beta of 1.28. 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 (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.75 by ($0.04). The business had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.90 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. Universal Health Services’s revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.55 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.88 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be given a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 3rd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.41%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 5.32%.

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.