Geode Capital Management LLC Increases Stock Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 4.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,661,530 shares of the health services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 63,754 shares during the quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC owned 2.49% of Universal Health Services worth $379,403,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of UHS. Vestcor Inc increased its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 1,436.5% during the 3rd quarter. Vestcor Inc now owns 54,070 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $12,383,000 after purchasing an additional 50,551 shares in the last quarter. M&T Bank Corp boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 16.3% during the third quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 2,870 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $657,000 after buying an additional 403 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC grew its position in Universal Health Services by 13.4% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 188,765 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $43,227,000 after buying an additional 22,369 shares during the period. LRI Investments LLC increased its holdings in Universal Health Services by 18.1% in the third quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 456 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $104,000 after buying an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 1.2% in the third quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 18,042 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $4,132,000 after acquiring an additional 206 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

UHS traded up $0.96 during trading on Friday, reaching $187.40. The company's stock had a trading volume of 498,144 shares, compared to its average volume of 643,320. The company has a market cap of $12.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.46, a PEG ratio of 0.60 and a beta of 1.28. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $207.54 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $208.36. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1 year low of $147.33 and a 1 year high of $243.25. 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 announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $3.75 by ($0.04). The company had revenue of $3.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.90 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.55 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.88 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

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 given a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 3rd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.43%. Universal Health Services's payout ratio is 5.32%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently commented on UHS. Cantor Fitzgerald restated a "neutral" rating and set a $219.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 25th. TD Cowen dropped their price objective on Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on Universal Health Services from $222.00 to $211.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 28th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $236.00 to $274.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, November 9th. Six 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 stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $225.50.

Insider Activity at Universal Health Services

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

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.