BNP Paribas Financial Markets Purchases 16,199 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

BNP Paribas Financial Markets lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 12.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 145,259 shares of the health services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 16,199 shares during the quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets owned 0.22% of Universal Health Services worth $33,266,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 1.9% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 603,705 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $138,254,000 after purchasing an additional 11,353 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 486,438 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $89,957,000 after acquiring an additional 2,620 shares during the period. Point72 Asset Management L.P. grew its position in Universal Health Services by 362.3% during the 2nd quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 322,626 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $59,663,000 after acquiring an additional 252,846 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP increased its stake in Universal Health Services by 357.9% in the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 261,221 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $48,308,000 after purchasing an additional 204,178 shares during the period. Finally, Los Angeles Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 102.0% in the third quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 210,926 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $48,304,000 after purchasing an additional 106,517 shares during the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 0.7 %

Shares of Universal Health Services stock traded up $1.50 during trading on Friday, hitting $205.00. The company's stock had a trading volume of 375,780 shares, compared to its average volume of 686,370. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52 week low of $133.70 and a 52 week high of $243.25. The company has a market capitalization of $13.52 billion, a PE ratio of 13.63, a P/E/G ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $214.82 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $207.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.39.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates 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 business had revenue of $3.96 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.90 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.55 EPS. Universal Health Services's revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 3rd. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 5.32%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. Bank of America began coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $223.00 price objective on the stock. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on Universal Health Services from $236.00 to $274.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. TD Cowen dropped their price objective on Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued a "neutral" rating and set a $219.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, UBS Group raised their price target on Universal Health Services from $247.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 14th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $225.50.

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.