Assenagon Asset Management S.A. Acquires 40,711 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 158.0% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 66,475 shares of the health services provider's stock after buying an additional 40,711 shares during the quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. owned approximately 0.10% of Universal Health Services worth $15,223,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of UHS. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 1,284.6% in the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 180 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 167 shares in the last quarter. Innealta Capital LLC bought a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter worth approximately $36,000. Denali Advisors LLC bought a new position in Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter worth approximately $37,000. Finally, LRI Investments LLC purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $219.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Friday. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $229.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. Barclays raised their price objective on Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday. StockNews.com upgraded Universal Health Services from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, October 19th. Finally, TD Cowen upgraded Universal Health Services from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their price target for the company from $220.00 to $283.00 in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $232.46.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 9.8 %

UHS stock traded down $21.91 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $202.75. 1,483,330 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 672,310. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $229.55 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $201.23. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.57 billion, a PE ratio of 17.18, a PEG ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a current ratio of 1.28. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a one year low of $121.00 and a one year high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $3.75 by ($0.04). Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 6.22%. The firm had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.90 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.55 earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.87 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services declared that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, July 24th that permits the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the health services provider to reacquire up to 8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are typically an indication that the company's management believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Nina Chen-Langenmayr sold 850 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.11, for a total transaction of $180,293.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 1,985 shares in the company, valued at approximately $421,038.35. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $217.64, for a total value of $749,552.16. Following the transaction, the director now owns 3,971 shares of the company's stock, valued at $864,248.44. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Nina Chen-Langenmayr sold 850 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.11, for a total value of $180,293.50. Following the transaction, the director now owns 1,985 shares in the company, valued at $421,038.35. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 16.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Universal Health Services Company 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.