Mount Lucas Management LP Trims Stock Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Mount Lucas Management LP lowered its position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 60.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 4,690 shares of the health services provider's stock after selling 7,067 shares during the quarter. Mount Lucas Management LP's holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $1,074,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in UHS. Financial Management Professionals Inc. purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services during the third quarter valued at about $32,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 1,284.6% in the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 180 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 167 shares during the last quarter. Huntington National Bank grew its position in Universal Health Services by 414.3% during the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 180 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 145 shares during the last quarter. Innealta Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the second quarter worth approximately $35,000. Finally, Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter worth approximately $36,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company's stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

NYSE:UHS traded up $0.68 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $201.69. The company's stock had a trading volume of 763,805 shares, compared to its average volume of 842,757. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $221.18 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $205.36. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The stock has a market cap of $13.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.41, a PEG ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.29. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12-month low of $132.74 and a 12-month high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last issued 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 company had revenue of $3.96 billion during 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 company's revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.93 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services declared that its board has initiated a share 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 buy up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are typically an indication that the company's management believes its stock is undervalued.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UHS has been the subject of several recent research reports. Stephens reiterated an "equal weight" rating and issued a $200.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Thursday, July 25th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, November 9th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. KeyCorp began coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Friday, October 11th. They set a "sector weight" rating for the company. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $229.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 30th. 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 company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $231.14.

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.