Mizuho Securities USA LLC Buys 96,591 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Mizuho Securities USA LLC lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 2,101.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 101,188 shares of the health services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 96,591 shares during the quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC owned 0.15% of Universal Health Services worth $23,173,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Point72 Asset Management L.P. boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 362.3% in the 2nd quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 322,626 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $59,663,000 after purchasing an additional 252,846 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 357.9% during the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 261,221 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $48,308,000 after purchasing an additional 204,178 shares during the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 1,191.8% in the first quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 215,215 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $39,267,000 after acquiring an additional 198,555 shares in the last quarter. Goldentree Asset Management LP purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter worth about $21,378,000. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp increased its position in Universal Health Services by 408.2% in the second quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 140,561 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $25,994,000 after buying an additional 112,902 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on UHS shares. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $229.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 30th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. UBS Group lifted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $247.00 to $267.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on shares of 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. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $231.14.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

UHS traded up $0.68 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $201.69. The company had a trading volume of 763,805 shares, compared to its average volume of 680,765. The company has a market cap of $13.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.41, a P/E/G ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.29. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1 year low of $132.74 and a 1 year high of $243.25. The business has a 50-day moving average of $221.18 and a two-hundred day moving average of $205.11. 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 released its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate 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 quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.55 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, July 24th that allows the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the health services provider to reacquire up to 8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are usually a sign that the company's board believes its stock is undervalued.

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.