Norges Bank Invests $67.96 Million in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 378,800 shares of the health services provider's stock, valued at approximately $67,964,000. Norges Bank owned approximately 0.57% of Universal Health Services as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Choreo LLC increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 3.4% during the 4th quarter. Choreo LLC now owns 1,822 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $325,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 14.4% in the third 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 last quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. increased its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 3,060 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $549,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. LRI Investments LLC raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 18.1% during the 3rd quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 456 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $104,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Platinum Investment Management Ltd. raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 17.6% during the 4th quarter. Platinum Investment Management Ltd. now owns 488 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $88,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have weighed in on UHS. Stephens raised their price target on Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Barclays dropped their price objective on Universal Health Services from $271.00 to $249.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $228.00 to $198.00 in a report on Monday, December 16th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $226.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday, December 17th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Universal Health Services has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $228.38.

Insider Activity at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total transaction of $179,160.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 7,916 shares in the company, valued at $1,418,230.56. This trade represents a 11.22 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 16.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of Universal Health Services stock traded up $0.77 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $172.44. The stock had a trading volume of 791,470 shares, compared to its average volume of 744,433. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1 year low of $152.69 and a 1 year high of $243.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.47, a P/E/G ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.21. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $180.74 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $194.21.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.21 by $0.71. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The firm had revenue of $4.11 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.01 billion. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd were given a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.46%. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 4.75%.

Universal Health Services 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.