Prudential Financial Inc. Lowers Stock Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Prudential Financial Inc. reduced its position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 13.9% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 51,056 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 8,214 shares during the quarter. Prudential Financial Inc.’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $9,160,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Fisher Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $543,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 12.6% during the third quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 145,259 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $33,266,000 after acquiring an additional 16,199 shares during the period. Townsquare Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the third quarter valued at $427,000. Freedom Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 46.3% in the third quarter. Freedom Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,849 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $423,000 after purchasing an additional 585 shares during the period. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 28.5% during the 3rd quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 14,017 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $3,210,000 after purchasing an additional 3,108 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UHS has been the subject of several recent research reports. Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $226.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $271.00 to $249.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, March 10th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group cut 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 research note on Monday, December 16th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $228.38.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total transaction of $179,160.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 7,916 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,418,230.56. This represents a 11.22 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of UHS opened at $186.11 on Friday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $181.91 and its 200-day simple moving average is $197.19. The firm has a market cap of $12.10 billion, a PE ratio of 12.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.32. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12-month low of $152.69 and a 12-month high of $243.25. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.21 by $0.71. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The company had revenue of $4.11 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.01 billion. As a group, equities analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd were given a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.43%. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is 4.75%.

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.