Bank of Montreal Can Increases Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Bank of Montreal Can lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 10.3% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 65,992 shares of the health services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 6,169 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can owned about 0.10% of Universal Health Services worth $11,840,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in UHS. Choreo LLC increased its position in Universal Health Services by 3.4% during the fourth quarter. Choreo LLC now owns 1,822 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $325,000 after buying an additional 60 shares during the period. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 3,060 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $549,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the period. Platinum Investment Management Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 17.6% in the 4th quarter. Platinum Investment Management Ltd. now owns 488 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $88,000 after acquiring an additional 73 shares during the period. V Square Quantitative Management LLC raised its position in Universal Health Services by 8.0% in the 4th quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 1,133 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $203,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Metis Global Partners LLC boosted its stake in Universal Health Services by 4.7% during the 4th quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 1,988 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $357,000 after purchasing an additional 90 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total value of $179,160.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 7,916 shares in the company, valued at $1,418,230.56. This represents a 11.22 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 16.10% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UHS has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Guggenheim assumed coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $208.00 price objective on the stock. Baird R W cut Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday. Robert W. Baird reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $224.00 price objective (down from $274.00) on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, March 10th. Finally, Stephens boosted their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $224.92.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UHS traded up $0.91 during trading on Friday, hitting $174.57. 585,657 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 747,813. The company has a market cap of $11.35 billion, a PE ratio of 11.61, a P/E/G ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $178.88 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $191.54. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12-month low of $152.69 and a 12-month high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates 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 company had revenue of $4.11 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.01 billion. On average, analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

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

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.