Martingale Asset Management L P Increases Stock Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Martingale Asset Management L P boosted its stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 494.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 72,858 shares of the health services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 60,606 shares during the quarter. Martingale Asset Management L P owned about 0.11% of Universal Health Services worth $16,685,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in UHS. Vinva Investment Management Ltd lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 33.4% in the third quarter. Vinva Investment Management Ltd now owns 52,098 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $11,978,000 after buying an additional 13,042 shares in the last quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 13.2% during the 3rd quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 2,572 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $589,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 13.5% during the 3rd quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 346,969 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $79,459,000 after acquiring an additional 41,218 shares during the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank grew its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 28.5% in the third quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 14,017 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $3,210,000 after purchasing an additional 3,108 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bridgewater Associates LP grew its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 20.7% in the third quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP now owns 147,032 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $33,672,000 after purchasing an additional 25,266 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company's stock.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 0.7 %

UHS stock traded up $1.50 during trading on Friday, hitting $205.00. The company had a trading volume of 375,779 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 50 day simple moving average of $215.48 and a 200-day simple moving average of $206.91. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.49, a PEG ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.29. 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 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 during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.90 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. Universal Health Services's revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.55 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast 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 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 dividend yield of 0.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 3rd. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio is 5.32%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UHS has been the subject of several research reports. KeyCorp started coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 11th. They set a "sector weight" rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on Universal Health Services from $222.00 to $211.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 28th. StockNews.com downgraded Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, November 9th. TD Cowen lowered their price objective on Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reissued a "neutral" rating and set a $219.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 25th. 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, Universal Health Services currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target 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.