Securian Asset Management Inc. Decreases Stock Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Securian Asset Management Inc. trimmed its position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 12.2% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,834 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 532 shares during the period. Securian Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $584,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Todd Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 17.9% in the 4th quarter. Todd Asset Management LLC now owns 159,605 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $24,330,000 after buying an additional 24,279 shares during the period. Russell Investments Group Ltd. increased its position in Universal Health Services by 14.2% during the 4th quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 74,240 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $11,317,000 after purchasing an additional 9,221 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in Universal Health Services by 3.5% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,090,010 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $137,047,000 after purchasing an additional 37,243 shares in the last quarter. UBS Group AG lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 51.2% in the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 62,949 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $7,915,000 after purchasing an additional 21,325 shares during the period. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 4,622.3% during the 3rd quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 16,906 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $2,125,000 after purchasing an additional 16,548 shares in the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Universal Health Services

In related news, CFO Steve Filton sold 35,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $176.82, for a total transaction of $6,188,700.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 68,785 shares in the company, valued at $12,162,563.70. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UHS opened at $178.90 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $11.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.16, a PEG ratio of 0.89 and a beta of 1.26. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a twelve month low of $119.90 and a twelve month high of $183.61. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75. The company has a 50 day moving average of $172.64 and a 200 day moving average of $159.72.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 24th. The health services provider reported $3.70 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.14 by $0.56. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 13.34% and a net margin of 5.57%. The firm had revenue of $3.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.78 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.34 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 10.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 13.64 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 3rd will be issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.45%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 3rd. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is presently 6.78%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UHS has been the subject of a number of research reports. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $181.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, April 26th. Citigroup raised their target price on Universal Health Services from $170.00 to $193.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 29th. UBS Group raised Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their price target for the stock from $189.00 to $226.00 in a research note on Monday. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $170.00 to $189.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, March 4th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $144.00 to $182.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $186.47.

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.