Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Shares Sold by abrdn plc

abrdn plc lowered its position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 18.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 15,711 shares of the health services provider's stock after selling 3,578 shares during the quarter. abrdn plc's holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $3,514,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Point72 Asset Management L.P. grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 362.3% during the 2nd quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 322,626 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $59,663,000 after buying an additional 252,846 shares in the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP lifted its stake in Universal Health Services by 357.9% in the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 261,221 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $48,308,000 after acquiring an additional 204,178 shares during the period. Lazard Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 1,191.8% during the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 215,215 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $39,267,000 after acquiring an additional 198,555 shares in the last quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter valued at about $25,032,000. Finally, Pzena Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 41.2% in the 1st quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 455,773 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $83,160,000 after purchasing an additional 132,942 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

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

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

NYSE:UHS traded up $3.57 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $208.83. The company had a trading volume of 911,598 shares, compared to its average volume of 677,720. The firm has a market cap of $13.93 billion, a PE ratio of 13.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.29. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $127.21 and a 1-year high of $243.25. The business's 50 day moving average price is $227.19 and its 200-day moving average price is $202.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last posted 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 net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The firm 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 firm earned $2.55 earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.89 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services announced that its board has initiated a stock buyback program 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 repurchase up to 8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are often an indication that the company's management believes its stock is undervalued.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the stock. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on Universal Health Services from $222.00 to $211.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 28th. Barclays lifted their target price on Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $236.00 to $274.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. Finally, TD Cowen cut their price objective 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, October 28th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Universal Health Services has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $231.00.

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.