Virtu Financial LLC Acquires Shares of 9,582 Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Virtu Financial LLC bought a new stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 9,582 shares of the health services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $2,194,000.

Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Cerity Partners LLC increased its holdings in 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 worth $4,820,000 after acquiring an additional 9,755 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 134.2% in the first 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 in the last quarter. Vestcor Inc increased its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 1,436.5% in the third quarter. Vestcor Inc now owns 54,070 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $12,383,000 after purchasing an additional 50,551 shares in the last quarter. Eagle Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the third quarter valued at approximately $13,496,000. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 174.3% during the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 41,623 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $9,532,000 after buying an additional 26,447 shares in the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

NYSE UHS opened at $186.44 on Friday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52-week low of $143.96 and a 52-week high of $243.25. The company has a fifty day moving average of $208.11 and a 200-day moving average of $208.06. The company has a market capitalization of $12.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.40, a P/E/G ratio of 0.61 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) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.75 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $3.96 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate 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% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.55 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.88 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be paid a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.43%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 5.32%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on UHS shares. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $222.00 to $211.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 28th. Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on Universal Health Services from $236.00 to $274.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 25th. KeyCorp assumed coverage on Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 11th. They set a “sector weight” rating on the stock. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $219.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $225.50.

Insider Buying and Selling at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total value of $308,516.10. Following the transaction, the director now owns 5,879 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,123,770.85. The trade was a 21.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction 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.

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.