Swiss National Bank Sells 11,500 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Swiss National Bank trimmed its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 5.9% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 182,800 shares of the health services provider's stock after selling 11,500 shares during the quarter. Swiss National Bank owned 0.27% of Universal Health Services worth $33,354,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its stake in Universal Health Services by 5.3% during the fourth quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 2,071,022 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $315,707,000 after purchasing an additional 103,802 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its position in Universal Health Services by 42.8% during the fourth quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 736,542 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $112,278,000 after buying an additional 220,823 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in Universal Health Services by 1.0% during the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 582,809 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $88,843,000 after buying an additional 5,557 shares during the period. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. increased its position in Universal Health Services by 32,501.2% during the fourth quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 570,847 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $87,020,000 after buying an additional 569,096 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new position in Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter worth approximately $86,117,000. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of UHS stock traded up $5.06 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $183.74. 1,034,886 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 616,723. The firm has a market cap of $12.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.38. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $183.37 and its 200-day simple moving average is $171.87. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a twelve month low of $119.90 and a twelve month high of $194.02.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 24th. The health services provider reported $3.70 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.14 by $0.56. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 13.34% and a net margin of 5.57%. The business had revenue of $3.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.78 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.34 earnings per share. Universal Health Services's revenue was up 10.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 13.83 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 3rd were given a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.44%. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio is currently 6.78%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have commented on UHS shares. Robert W. Baird raised Universal Health Services from a "neutral" rating to an "outperform" rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $198.00 to $236.00 in a research report on Wednesday, June 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Universal Health Services from $182.00 to $186.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, May 30th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their target price on Universal Health Services from $208.00 to $203.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 12th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an "underweight" rating and issued a $162.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, July 9th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Universal Health Services from $195.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, March 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $194.21.

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.