Fisher Asset Management LLC Has $944,000 Stock Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 73.2% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,212 shares of the health services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,202 shares during the quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $944,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in UHS. Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 22.9% during the second quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 354 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $64,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the period. Choreo LLC grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 3.9% in the 2nd quarter. Choreo LLC now owns 1,838 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $333,000 after buying an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its position in Universal Health Services by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 2,665 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $501,000 after buying an additional 69 shares during the period. Fifth Third Bancorp lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 5.5% during the second quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 1,432 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $259,000 after buying an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 0.4% during the second quarter. Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 18,244 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $3,295,000 after buying an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms recently commented on UHS. Cantor Fitzgerald raised their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $227.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. Mizuho set a $242.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $219.00 price target for the company. Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on Universal Health Services from $243.00 to $203.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, August 14th. Finally, Zacks Research raised Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $234.14.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:UHS opened at $231.02 on Friday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1 year low of $152.33 and a 1 year high of $246.32. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 0.96. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $219.46 and its 200 day simple moving average is $193.81.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The health services provider reported $5.69 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.66 by $1.03. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.47% and a net margin of 8.09%.The firm had revenue of $4.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.32 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $3.71 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 13.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 1st will be given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 1st. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is currently 3.80%.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Elliot J. Md Mba Sussman sold 965 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $225.70, for a total value of $217,800.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 6,113 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,379,704.10. This represents a 13.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,817 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $223.30, for a total transaction of $852,336.10. Following the sale, the director directly owned 8,481 shares in the company, valued at $1,893,807.30. This trade represents a 31.04% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 16.40% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

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.