Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. Decreases Stock Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lowered its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 3.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 584,743 shares of the health services provider's stock after selling 18,962 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. owned 0.89% of Universal Health Services worth $104,915,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 102.0% in the 3rd quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 210,926 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $48,304,000 after acquiring an additional 106,517 shares during the last quarter. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter valued at about $18,709,000. Mizuho Securities USA LLC increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 2,101.2% in the third quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC now owns 101,188 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $23,173,000 after purchasing an additional 96,591 shares during the last quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the third quarter worth about $21,557,000. Finally, Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 70.8% in the third quarter. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC now owns 214,379 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $49,095,000 after buying an additional 88,872 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company's stock.

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Insider Activity at Universal Health Services

In related news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total transaction of $179,160.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 7,916 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,418,230.56. This trade represents a 11.22 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded Universal Health Services from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group cut Universal Health Services from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Stephens raised their price objective on 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. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday. Finally, Barclays lowered their price target 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. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $230.75.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 3.5 %

UHS stock traded down $5.96 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $166.56. The company had a trading volume of 946,090 shares, compared to its average volume of 744,144. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52-week low of $152.68 and a 52-week high of $243.25. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $183.38 and a 200-day simple moving average of $201.91. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.07, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.32. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last issued 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 net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The business had revenue of $4.11 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.01 billion. As a group, research analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

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

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.