Barclays PLC Raises Stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Barclays PLC grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 13.4% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 188,765 shares of the health services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 22,369 shares during the period. Barclays PLC owned approximately 0.29% of Universal Health Services worth $43,227,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

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

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

NYSE:UHS traded up $0.96 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $187.40. The company's stock had a trading volume of 464,302 shares, compared to its average volume of 679,392. 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 stock has a market cap of $12.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.46, a PEG ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 1.28. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $208.11 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $208.06. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12-month low of $147.33 and a 12-month high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.75 by ($0.04). Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The company had revenue of $3.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.90 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.55 earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.88 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

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 $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.43%. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 5.32%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total value of $308,516.10. Following the transaction, the director now owns 5,879 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,123,770.85. This trade represents a 21.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on UHS. TD Cowen reduced their target price on shares of 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. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 25th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $219.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Friday, October 25th. KeyCorp started coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Friday, October 11th. They issued a "sector weight" rating on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on Universal Health Services from $222.00 to $211.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 28th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $225.50.

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.