Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Plans $0.20 Quarterly Dividend

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) declared a quarterly dividend on Thursday, February 12th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be given a dividend of 0.20 per share by the health services provider on Monday, March 16th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 2nd.

Universal Health Services has raised its dividend payment by an average of 0.1%per year over the last three years. Universal Health Services has a payout ratio of 3.7% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Analysts expect Universal Health Services to earn $17.69 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 4.5%.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 1.0%

Shares of NYSE:UHS opened at $233.57 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $215.32 and a 200-day moving average of $205.92. The company has a market capitalization of $14.59 billion, a PE ratio of 11.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 1.26. Universal Health Services has a 52-week low of $152.33 and a 52-week high of $246.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 1.03.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Pzena Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 310.2% during the third quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 1,607,029 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $328,541,000 after acquiring an additional 1,215,286 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter valued at $199,334,000. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 2nd quarter valued at $87,373,000. Nomura Holdings Inc. increased its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 100.6% during the 2nd quarter. Nomura Holdings Inc. now owns 2,560 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $464,000 after purchasing an additional 426,211 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Holocene Advisors LP raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 262.4% during the 3rd quarter. Holocene Advisors LP now owns 358,885 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $73,370,000 after purchasing an additional 259,861 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

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.