Bridgewater Associates LP Boosts Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Bridgewater Associates LP increased its holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 20.7% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 147,032 shares of the health services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 25,266 shares during the quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP owned 0.22% of Universal Health Services worth $33,672,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Van ECK Associates Corp raised its holdings 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 buying an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. LRI Investments LLC increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 19.5% during the second quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 386 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $71,000 after acquiring an additional 63 shares in the last quarter. Empirical Finance LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 5,704 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $1,306,000 after acquiring an additional 64 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,238 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $512,000 after buying an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mather Group LLC. grew its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 31.6% in the third quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 283 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $65,000 after acquiring an additional 68 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Universal Health Services stock traded down $2.77 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $203.32. 332,062 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 686,601. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $133.70 and a fifty-two week high of $243.25. The firm's fifty day moving average is $216.79 and its two-hundred day moving average is $206.96. 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 company has a market capitalization of $13.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 1.29.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $3.75 by ($0.04). Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The business had revenue of $3.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.90 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.55 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Investors 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 payout ratio is 5.32%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have issued reports on UHS shares. Bank of America started coverage on Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $223.00 target price on the stock. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $219.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on Universal Health Services from $236.00 to $274.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th. Finally, KeyCorp initiated coverage on Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 11th. They set a "sector weight" rating on the stock. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $225.50.

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.