Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) EVP Matthew Jay Peterson Sells 15,141 Shares

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $210.85, for a total transaction of $3,192,479.85. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 5,253 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,107,595.05. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of UHS traded up $3.70 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $217.39. The stock had a trading volume of 632,902 shares, compared to its average volume of 644,958. The company’s fifty day moving average is $185.59 and its two-hundred day moving average is $174.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.28 and a quick ratio of 1.17. 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 capitalization of $14.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.51, a P/E/G ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The health services provider reported $4.31 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.37 by $0.94. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.22% and a return on equity of 14.91%. The business had revenue of $3.91 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.87 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.53 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 16.03 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services announced that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase program on Wednesday, July 24th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the health services provider to reacquire up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd will be issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.37%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 3rd. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is 6.78%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Inspire Investing LLC bought a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter worth about $897,000. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 95.9% during the 1st quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board now owns 19,511 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $3,560,000 after acquiring an additional 9,549 shares during the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 27.9% during the 1st quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 65,643 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $11,998,000 after acquiring an additional 14,326 shares during the last quarter. Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC bought a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter worth about $738,000. Finally, Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 5,033.3% during the 1st quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 7,084 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $1,292,000 after purchasing an additional 6,946 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently commented on the stock. TD Cowen upped their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $183.00 to $220.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday. Stephens reiterated an “equal weight” rating and set a $200.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Thursday. UBS Group upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their target price for the company from $189.00 to $226.00 in a research note on Monday, May 20th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $208.00 to $203.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 12th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $182.00 to $186.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, May 30th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $209.00.

Universal Health Services Company 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.