iA Global Asset Management Inc. Grows Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

iA Global Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 24.0% during the first quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 4,350 shares of the health services provider’s stock after buying an additional 842 shares during the period. iA Global Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $794,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of UHS. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. raised its holdings in Universal Health Services by 5.2% during the fourth quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 29,932 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $4,570,000 after acquiring an additional 1,476 shares during the period. International Assets Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in Universal Health Services by 4,906.0% during the fourth quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 3,354 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $511,000 after acquiring an additional 3,287 shares during the period. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale raised its holdings in Universal Health Services by 7.2% during the fourth quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 3,383 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $516,000 after acquiring an additional 228 shares during the period. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in Universal Health Services by 4.1% during the fourth quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 34,178 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $5,210,000 after acquiring an additional 1,350 shares during the period. Finally, Ingalls & Snyder LLC bought a new stake in Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter valued at about $229,000. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 1.0 %

NYSE UHS traded up $2.06 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $215.82. 843,416 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 653,012. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $187.71 and a 200 day moving average price of $175.18. The company has a quick ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52 week low of $119.90 and a 52 week high of $219.61. The stock has a market cap of $14.44 billion, a PE ratio of 18.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The health services provider reported $4.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.37 by $0.94. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 6.22%. The business had revenue of $3.91 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.87 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.53 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.96 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd will be given a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 3rd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.37%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 6.78%.

Universal Health Services announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a share repurchase plan on Wednesday, July 24th that permits the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the health services provider to buy up to 8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are usually a sign that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have commented on UHS. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $229.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday. Baird R W raised Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, June 26th. Barclays raised Universal Health Services from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $198.00 to $256.00 in a report on Friday, July 26th. Robert W. Baird raised Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $198.00 to $236.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 26th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald raised Universal Health Services from an “underweight” rating to a “neutral” rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $162.00 to $219.00 in a report on Friday, July 26th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $216.31.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Eileen C. Mcdonnell sold 2,535 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $209.55, for a total transaction of $531,209.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 6,413 shares in the company, valued at $1,343,844.15. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $210.85, for a total value of $3,192,479.85. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 5,253 shares in the company, valued at $1,107,595.05. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Eileen C. Mcdonnell sold 2,535 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of the sale, the director now owns 6,413 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,343,844.15. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

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.