Proficio Capital Partners LLC Purchases New Stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Proficio Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 62,998 shares of the health services provider's stock, valued at approximately $11,303,000. Proficio Capital Partners LLC owned about 0.10% of Universal Health Services as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 22.5% in the 4th quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 54,105 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $9,721,000 after acquiring an additional 9,946 shares during the last quarter. Savant Capital LLC increased its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 255.3% in the 4th quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 6,345 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $1,138,000 after purchasing an additional 4,559 shares during the last quarter. Abacus Planning Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 175.6% during the 4th quarter. Abacus Planning Group Inc. now owns 2,792 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $501,000 after acquiring an additional 1,779 shares in the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC lifted its position in Universal Health Services by 86.4% in the third quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 21,047 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $4,820,000 after acquiring an additional 9,755 shares during the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in Universal Health Services by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,197,537 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $274,248,000 after purchasing an additional 10,578 shares during the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 0.2 %

Universal Health Services stock traded up $0.28 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $175.53. 1,075,868 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 647,532. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.58 billion, a PE ratio of 11.67, a P/E/G ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $184.47 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $204.80. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52 week low of $152.68 and a 52 week high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.21 by $0.71. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The company had revenue of $4.11 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.01 billion. Equities research analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd will be issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.46%. Universal Health Services's payout ratio is presently 4.75%.

Insider Activity at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total transaction of $308,516.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 5,879 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,123,770.85. The trade was a 21.54 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 16.10% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UHS has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. StockNews.com lowered Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, November 9th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Universal Health Services from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Bank of America started coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $223.00 price target on the stock. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $228.77.

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.