Banco Santander S.A. Boosts Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Banco Santander S.A. raised its position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 54.4% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,680 shares of the health services provider's stock after buying an additional 1,648 shares during the quarter. Banco Santander S.A.'s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $840,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 22.5% during the fourth quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 54,105 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $9,721,000 after purchasing an additional 9,946 shares during the last quarter. Savant Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 255.3% during the fourth quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 6,345 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $1,138,000 after purchasing an additional 4,559 shares during the last quarter. Abacus Planning Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 175.6% during the fourth quarter. Abacus Planning Group Inc. now owns 2,792 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $501,000 after purchasing an additional 1,779 shares during the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 86.4% during the third quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 21,047 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $4,820,000 after purchasing an additional 9,755 shares during the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 0.9% during the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,197,537 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $274,248,000 after purchasing an additional 10,578 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company's stock.

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Universal Health Services Price Performance

Universal Health Services stock traded down $5.96 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $166.56. The stock had a trading volume of 946,090 shares, compared to its average volume of 744,144. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.07, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.32. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $152.68 and a 1-year high of $243.25. The stock'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 posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $4.21 by $0.71. The business had revenue of $4.11 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.01 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. As a group, analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd will be paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.48%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 3rd. Universal Health Services's payout ratio is currently 4.75%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently commented on UHS. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated a "neutral" rating and set a $226.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut Universal Health Services from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and cut their price target for the stock from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. TD Cowen cut their price objective on 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. Barclays cut 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. Finally, Stephens increased their price objective 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. Six 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, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $230.75.

Insider Activity at Universal Health Services

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total value of $179,160.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 7,916 shares in the company, valued at $1,418,230.56. The trade was a 11.22 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 16.10% of the company's stock.

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.