Asset Management One Co. Ltd. Raises Stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Asset Management One Co. Ltd. lifted its stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Free Report) by 14.6% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 35,156 shares of the health services provider's stock after buying an additional 4,472 shares during the period. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. owned approximately 0.05% of Universal Health Services worth $8,051,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in UHS. Financial Management Professionals Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the 3rd quarter valued at about $32,000. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 1,284.6% in the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 180 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 167 shares during the period. Innealta Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the second quarter worth approximately $35,000. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter valued at $36,000. Finally, LRI Investments LLC purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services in the 1st quarter valued at $43,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,444 shares of the firm's 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 sale, the director now directly 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 sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 16.10% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UHS has been the topic of a number of research reports. Barclays raised their price target on Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated a "neutral" rating and set a $219.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 25th. StockNews.com lowered Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Stephens reissued an "equal weight" rating and issued a $200.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Thursday, July 25th. Finally, 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 report on Wednesday, September 4th. Six investment 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 stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $231.14.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UHS traded down $0.91 during trading on Friday, reaching $207.50. The company had a trading volume of 572,831 shares, compared to its average volume of 681,757. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a twelve month low of $127.43 and a twelve month high of $243.25. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $225.03 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $203.48. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.84 billion, a PE ratio of 13.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.29.

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 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $3.75 by ($0.04). The company had revenue of $3.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.90 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.55 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.89 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock buyback plan on Wednesday, July 24th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the health services provider to purchase up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are often a sign that the company's leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

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.