AlphaQuest LLC Reduces Stock Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

AlphaQuest LLC lessened its stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 77.4% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,363 shares of the health services provider's stock after selling 8,084 shares during the period. AlphaQuest LLC's holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $424,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. Sigma Planning Corp purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 3rd quarter worth $256,000. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. bought a new position in Universal Health Services in the third quarter valued at about $225,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in Universal Health Services by 70.6% in the third quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 476 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $109,000 after purchasing an additional 197 shares during the last quarter. OVERSEA CHINESE BANKING Corp Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter valued at about $426,000. Finally, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 10.8% during the 3rd quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 162,338 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $37,177,000 after purchasing an additional 15,827 shares during the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on UHS shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $226.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. TD Cowen cut their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, November 26th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised Universal Health Services from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Barclays cut their price target on Universal Health Services from $271.00 to $249.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Universal Health Services from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned 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 $230.75.

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Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UHS opened at $163.21 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $10.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.85, a P/E/G ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.32. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52-week low of $152.68 and a 52-week high of $243.25. 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 firm's fifty day moving average is $183.38 and its two-hundred day moving average is $201.91.

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

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd will be given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.49%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 3rd. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio is presently 4.75%.

Insider Activity at Universal Health Services

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

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.

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