Redwood Investment Management LLC Sells 985 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Redwood Investment Management LLC trimmed its position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 10.6% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 8,281 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 985 shares during the period. Redwood Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $1,511,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. increased its position in Universal Health Services by 32,501.2% during the fourth quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 570,847 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $87,020,000 after buying an additional 569,096 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter valued at $86,117,000. Point72 Asset Management L.P. lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 12,924.9% during the 4th quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 503,935 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $76,820,000 after purchasing an additional 500,066 shares during the last quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter worth $49,212,000. Finally, 8 Knots Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter valued at $40,010,000. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

NYSE UHS traded down $1.34 on Wednesday, hitting $213.76. 1,106,027 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 651,666. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52 week low of $119.90 and a 52 week high of $219.61. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $187.71 and a 200-day moving average of $175.18. The company has a current ratio of 1.28, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The stock has a market cap of $14.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.12, a P/E/G ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.28.

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

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

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 3rd will be given a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.37%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is 6.78%.

Insider Activity 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 on Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.55, for a total transaction of $531,209.25. Following the sale, the director now owns 6,413 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,343,844.15. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other Universal Health Services news, Director Eileen C. Mcdonnell sold 2,535 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $209.55, for a total value of $531,209.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,413 shares in the company, valued at $1,343,844.15. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the executive vice president now owns 5,253 shares in the company, valued at $1,107,595.05. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 16.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages recently commented on UHS. Robert W. Baird raised shares of 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. StockNews.com upgraded Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 17th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price objective on Universal Health Services from $208.00 to $203.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 12th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $255.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $182.00 to $186.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 30th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $216.31.

About Universal Health Services

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.