Zacks Investment Management Buys Shares of 12,200 Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Zacks Investment Management bought a new position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm bought 12,200 shares of the health services provider's stock, valued at approximately $2,794,000.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. Van ECK Associates Corp raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 4.2% during the second quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 1,160 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $215,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. LRI Investments LLC lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 19.5% in the 2nd quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 386 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $71,000 after buying an additional 63 shares during the period. Empirical Finance LLC grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 5,704 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $1,306,000 after buying an additional 64 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE increased its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.0% during the third quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,238 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $512,000 after buying an additional 65 shares during the period. Finally, Quarry LP increased its position in Universal Health Services by 14.4% during the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 516 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $118,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued a "neutral" rating and set a $219.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Friday, October 25th. StockNews.com lowered Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, November 9th. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 25th. Finally, TD Cowen lowered their price objective on Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 26th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $225.50.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 0.7 %

UHS stock traded down $1.37 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $192.85. 486,792 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 682,724. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a one year low of $139.90 and a one year high of $243.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.72 billion, a PE ratio of 12.82, a PEG ratio of 0.62 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.39. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $210.73 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $208.11.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $3.75 by ($0.04). The business had revenue of $3.96 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.90 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. Universal Health Services's revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.55 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.88 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 3rd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.41%. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio is currently 5.32%.

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.