Nisa Investment Advisors LLC Increases Stock Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Nisa Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 61.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 32,429 shares of the health services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 12,387 shares during the period. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC's holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $7,427,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Financial Management Professionals Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the third quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 1,284.6% during the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 180 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares in the last quarter. Innealta Capital LLC purchased a new position in Universal Health Services during the second quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter valued at $36,000. Finally, Denali Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter worth $37,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UHS has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Stephens reiterated an "equal weight" rating and issued a $200.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Thursday, July 25th. Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on Universal Health Services from $236.00 to $274.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th. KeyCorp began coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Friday, October 11th. They set a "sector weight" rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $255.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 22nd. Finally, TD Cowen dropped their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $283.00 to $275.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday. Five 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 company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $231.00.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UHS traded down $3.28 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $204.22. The company had a trading volume of 1,117,569 shares, compared to its average volume of 676,826. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a twelve month low of $123.80 and a twelve month high of $243.25. The stock has a market cap of $13.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.67 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $227.75 and its 200-day simple moving average is $201.82.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $3.75 by ($0.04). Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The business had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.90 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.55 earnings per share. The company's revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.9 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services announced that its board has authorized a share buyback plan 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 purchase up to 8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are usually an indication that the company's board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Buying and Selling

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

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.