Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) To Go Ex-Dividend on September 1st

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) declared a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 1st will be paid a dividend of 0.20 per share by the health services provider on Tuesday, September 15th. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 1st.

Universal Health Services has increased its dividend payment by an average of 0.3%annually over the last three years. Universal Health Services has a dividend payout ratio of 3.7% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Research analysts expect Universal Health Services to earn $25.37 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.80 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 3.2%.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 3.7%

Shares of UHS opened at $153.45 on Friday. Universal Health Services has a 52 week low of $140.08 and a 52 week high of $246.32. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.39, a PEG ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a current ratio of 1.08. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $152.77 and a 200-day moving average of $182.51.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $5.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.41 by $0.21. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.57% and a net margin of 8.56%.The business had revenue of $4.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.39 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $4.84 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services will post 23.44 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Pzena Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 31.5% during the 4th quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 2,112,604 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $460,590,000 after purchasing an additional 505,575 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 12.1% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,781,262 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $318,812,000 after purchasing an additional 192,351 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 1.7% in the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,226,577 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $219,520,000 after purchasing an additional 20,577 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter worth approximately $199,334,000. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted its stake in Universal Health Services by 59.5% in the fourth quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 871,377 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $189,978,000 after buying an additional 325,162 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Universal Health Services

Universal Health Services, Inc (NYSE: UHS) is one of the largest diversified health care management companies in the United States, offering a broad spectrum of services through its acute care hospital and behavioral health segments. The company operates general acute care hospitals, surgical hospitals and ambulatory centers, as well as inpatient and outpatient behavioral health facilities. Its network provides emergency and specialized medicine, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, advanced surgical care and rehabilitation, complemented by a comprehensive array of behavioral services including psychiatric treatment, addiction programs and developmental disabilities care.

In the acute care segment, UHS’s facilities deliver services ranging from emergency department treatment and intensive care to maternity care and outpatient surgery.