Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Shares Sold by Gateway Investment Advisers LLC

Gateway Investment Advisers LLC lowered its position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 0.3% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 47,337 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 149 shares during the quarter. Gateway Investment Advisers LLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $8,754,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. acquired a new position in Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at $32,000. Mather Group LLC. acquired a new position in Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at $36,000. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new position in Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at $36,000. Denali Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Universal Health Services in the first quarter valued at $37,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC acquired a new position in Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter valued at $42,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Down 1.5 %

NYSE:UHS traded down $3.18 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $215.22. The stock had a trading volume of 502,479 shares, compared to its average volume of 662,942. The company has a market capitalization of $14.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.70 and a beta of 1.28. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $119.90 and a 1-year high of $219.61. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $192.45 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $178.00. 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 (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The health services provider reported $4.31 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.37 by $0.94. The business had revenue of $3.91 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.87 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 6.22%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.53 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.96 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services declared that its Board of Directors has approved a share buyback plan on Wednesday, July 24th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the health services provider to purchase up to 8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are typically an indication that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

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

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Nina Chen-Langenmayr sold 850 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.11, for a total value of $180,293.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 1,985 shares in the company, valued at $421,038.35. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Universal Health Services news, Director Nina Chen-Langenmayr sold 850 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.11, for a total value of $180,293.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 1,985 shares in the company, valued at $421,038.35. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $210.85, for a total value of $3,192,479.85. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 5,253 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,107,595.05. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 18,526 shares of company stock worth $3,903,983. Corporate insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have commented on UHS. Barclays raised Universal Health Services from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and raised their price objective for the company from $198.00 to $256.00 in a research report on Friday, July 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Universal Health Services from $182.00 to $186.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 30th. StockNews.com raised Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 17th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $255.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 30th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $229.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 30th. Five investment 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. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $216.31.

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.