Meeder Asset Management Inc. Purchases 4,134 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

Meeder Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 73.4% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 9,764 shares of the health services provider’s stock after buying an additional 4,134 shares during the quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $1,996,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of UHS. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services in the second quarter worth about $87,373,000. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $83,333,000. Nomura Holdings Inc. grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 100.6% in the 2nd quarter. Nomura Holdings Inc. now owns 2,560 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $464,000 after buying an additional 426,211 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. increased its position in Universal Health Services by 11.1% in the 2nd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,461,198 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $264,696,000 after buying an additional 145,730 shares during the period. Finally, Amundi increased its position in Universal Health Services by 50.2% in the 2nd quarter. Amundi now owns 403,237 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $74,385,000 after buying an additional 134,757 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on UHS. TD Cowen lowered their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $251.00 to $245.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. UBS Group set a $245.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday. Mizuho set a $242.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. Raymond James Financial set a $270.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $234.20.

Universal Health Services Trading Down 1.9%

Shares of Universal Health Services stock opened at $207.08 on Monday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52-week low of $152.33 and a 52-week high of $246.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.94 billion, a PE ratio of 9.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 1.28. 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 fifty day moving average price is $226.75 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $201.19.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The health services provider reported $5.69 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.66 by $1.03. The company had revenue of $4.50 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.32 billion. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 8.09% and a return on equity of 19.47%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 13.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $3.71 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 1st were issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 1st. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is presently 3.80%.

Insider Activity at Universal Health Services

In other news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,817 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $223.30, for a total value of $852,336.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 8,481 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,893,807.30. This represents a 31.04% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Elliot J. Md Mba Sussman sold 965 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on 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 sale, the director directly owned 6,113 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,379,704.10. This represents a 13.63% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Corporate insiders own 16.40% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Profile

Universal Health Services, Inc (NYSE: UHS) is one of the largest diversified health care management companies in the United States, offering a broad spectrum of services through its acute care hospital and behavioral health segments. The company operates general acute care hospitals, surgical hospitals and ambulatory centers, as well as inpatient and outpatient behavioral health facilities. Its network provides emergency and specialized medicine, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, advanced surgical care and rehabilitation, complemented by a comprehensive array of behavioral services including psychiatric treatment, addiction programs and developmental disabilities care.

In the acute care segment, UHS’s facilities deliver services ranging from emergency department treatment and intensive care to maternity care and outpatient surgery.