First Trust Advisors LP Sells 17,134 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

First Trust Advisors LP reduced its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 8.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 178,918 shares of the health services provider's stock after selling 17,134 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP owned 0.27% of Universal Health Services worth $32,101,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of UHS. R Squared Ltd bought a new stake in Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Quent Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 118.3% in the 4th quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 179 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. Campbell Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter worth $46,000. Huntington National Bank raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 55.6% during the fourth quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 280 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $50,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Board of the Pension Protection Fund bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter worth $72,000. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction 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 sale, the director now owns 7,916 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,418,230.56. The trade was a 11.22 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 16.40% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of Universal Health Services stock traded up $1.81 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $173.49. 942,232 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 746,816. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12 month low of $153.99 and a 12 month high of $243.25. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $177.10 and a 200 day simple moving average of $189.14. The company has a market capitalization of $11.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.54, a P/E/G ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.21. 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 posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 28th. The health services provider reported $4.84 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.35 by $0.49. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UHS has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Robert W. Baird reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $224.00 price target (down from $274.00) on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Stephens raised their target price on Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Baird R W lowered Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 15th. Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, March 26th. They set an "equal weight" rating and a $200.00 target price on the stock. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $224.92.

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.