The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company Trims Stock Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company lowered its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 5.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 49,592 shares of the health services provider's stock after selling 2,881 shares during the quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company owned approximately 0.07% of Universal Health Services worth $11,357,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Cetera Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 1st quarter worth approximately $642,000. NBC Securities Inc. raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 403.2% during the 2nd quarter. NBC Securities Inc. now owns 7,321 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $1,353,000 after acquiring an additional 5,866 shares during the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 86.4% in the 3rd quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 21,047 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $4,820,000 after purchasing an additional 9,755 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 134.2% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 8,744 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $1,595,000 after purchasing an additional 5,010 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Eagle Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the third quarter worth $13,496,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UHS has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 25th. UBS Group raised their price target on Universal Health Services from $247.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. KeyCorp started coverage on Universal Health Services in a report on Friday, October 11th. They set a "sector weight" rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their target price 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. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $219.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $225.50.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 0.8 %

Shares of NYSE:UHS traded down $1.53 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $199.33. The company's stock had a trading volume of 119,775 shares, compared to its average volume of 684,074. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $214.02 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $207.62. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $133.70 and a fifty-two week high of $243.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.24, a PEG ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.39.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results 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 return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The company had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.90 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.55 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.40%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 3rd. Universal Health Services's payout ratio is currently 5.32%.

About Universal Health Services

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.