State of Alaska Department of Revenue Cuts Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

State of Alaska Department of Revenue lessened its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 14.4% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 26,094 shares of the health services provider's stock after selling 4,390 shares during the quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue's holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $5,974,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Van ECK Associates Corp boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 4.2% during the 2nd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 1,160 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $215,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. LRI Investments LLC lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 19.5% in the 2nd quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 386 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $71,000 after acquiring an additional 63 shares in the last quarter. Mather Group LLC. lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 31.6% in the 3rd quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 283 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $65,000 after acquiring an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. Empirical Finance LLC lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 2,455 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $448,000 after acquiring an additional 73 shares in the last quarter. Finally, O Neil Global Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 6.7% in the 2nd quarter. O Neil Global Advisors Inc. now owns 1,175 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $217,000 after acquiring an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently weighed in on UHS. KeyCorp began coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 11th. They issued a "sector weight" rating on the stock. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $247.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. Barclays raised their price target 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. The Goldman Sachs Group raised 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. Finally, Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $236.00 to $274.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $231.00.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UHS traded up $1.37 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $205.92. 885,239 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 674,683. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52 week low of $121.55 and a 52 week high of $243.25. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.74 billion, a PE ratio of 13.69, a PEG ratio of 0.67 and a beta of 1.27. The company's 50 day moving average price is $228.66 and its 200 day moving average price is $201.76.

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 (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates 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 for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.90 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.55 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services declared that its board has initiated a share repurchase plan on Wednesday, July 24th that permits the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the health services provider to buy up to 8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are typically a sign that the company's management believes its shares are undervalued.

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.