Boston Partners Sells 3,571 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Boston Partners lessened its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 6.3% in the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 53,491 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 3,571 shares during the period. Boston Partners’ holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $9,756,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the first quarter valued at $32,000. Mather Group LLC. purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the first quarter worth about $36,000. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the first quarter worth approximately $36,000. Denali Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the first quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of UHS stock traded down $2.61 on Friday, hitting $213.21. The company had a trading volume of 858,520 shares, compared to its average volume of 943,311. The company has a quick ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a twelve month low of $119.90 and a twelve month high of $219.61. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $189.22 and a 200-day moving average price of $175.85. The firm has a market cap of $14.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The health services provider reported $4.31 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.37 by $0.94. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.22% and a return on equity of 14.91%. The firm had revenue of $3.91 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.87 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.53 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.96 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services declared that its board has initiated a stock buyback program on Wednesday, July 24th that allows the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the health services provider to buy up to 8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are usually a sign that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd will be paid a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 3rd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.38%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 6.78%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Eileen C. Mcdonnell sold 2,535 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $209.55, for a total value of $531,209.25. Following the sale, the director now owns 6,413 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,343,844.15. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, EVP Matthew Jay Peterson sold 15,141 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $210.85, for a total value of $3,192,479.85. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,253 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,107,595.05. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Eileen C. Mcdonnell sold 2,535 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $209.55, for a total transaction of $531,209.25. Following the transaction, the director now owns 6,413 shares in the company, valued at $1,343,844.15. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on UHS shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Universal Health Services from $182.00 to $186.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 30th. Barclays upgraded Universal Health Services from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $198.00 to $256.00 in a report on Friday, July 26th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 17th. UBS Group upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their price objective for the company from $189.00 to $226.00 in a research report on Monday, May 20th. Finally, Robert W. Baird upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating and boosted their target price for the company from $198.00 to $236.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 26th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $216.31.

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.