Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) Stock Price Down 2.9% - Here's What Happened

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report)'s share price traded down 2.9% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $174.10 and last traded at $174.37. 25,383 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 84% from the average session volume of 156,079 shares. The stock had previously closed at $179.67.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on UHS. Cantor Fitzgerald restated a "neutral" rating and issued a $219.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Friday, October 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Universal Health Services from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and lowered their target price for the company from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $226.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. 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, Bank of America assumed coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $223.00 target price for the company. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $226.14.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 0.4 %

The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $195.09 and its 200-day simple moving average is $207.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.39. The stock has a market cap of $11.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.60 and a beta of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $3.75 by ($0.04). The business had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.90 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.55 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.88 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.45%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 3rd. Universal Health Services's dividend payout ratio is presently 5.32%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the company's 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 transaction, the director now directly owns 5,879 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,123,770.85. This represents a 21.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Insiders own 16.10% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Universal Health Services

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. State Street Corp raised its position in Universal Health Services by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,724,075 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $623,840,000 after buying an additional 17,527 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 4.0% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,661,530 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $379,403,000 after purchasing an additional 63,754 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 0.9% during the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,197,537 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $274,248,000 after purchasing an additional 10,578 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in Universal Health Services by 1.9% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 603,705 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $138,254,000 after purchasing an additional 11,353 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC increased its stake in Universal Health Services by 13.5% in the 3rd quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 346,969 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $79,459,000 after buying an additional 41,218 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company's stock.

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.