Westport Asset Management Inc. Takes $9.67 Million Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

Westport Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 65,059 shares of the health services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $9,674,000. Universal Health Services comprises about 3.9% of Westport Asset Management Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 5th biggest holding. Westport Asset Management Inc. owned approximately 0.11% of Universal Health Services as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of 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 valued at $501,000 after acquiring an additional 69 shares during the last quarter. United Services Automobile Association acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the first quarter worth approximately $235,000. Focus Partners Wealth grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 80.6% in the first quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 2,631 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $494,000 after purchasing an additional 1,174 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Universal Health Services by 95.0% in the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 583 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $106,000 after purchasing an additional 284 shares during the period. Finally, Gamco Investors INC. ET AL acquired a new position in Universal Health Services during the second quarter worth approximately $379,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have weighed in on UHS. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $179.00 to $168.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. Robert W. Baird dropped their price objective on Universal Health Services from $204.00 to $166.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Universal Health Services from $165.00 to $166.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. Wall Street Zen lowered Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, May 2nd. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $194.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $204.93.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of UHS stock opened at $172.62 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. The company has a market cap of $10.17 billion, a PE ratio of 7.03, a P/E/G ratio of 0.94 and a beta of 1.05. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $156.79 and its 200-day simple moving average is $175.08. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52 week low of $140.08 and a 52 week high of $246.32.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 28th. The health services provider reported $5.98 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.94 by $0.04. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 8.42% and a return on equity of 19.39%. The firm had revenue of $4.64 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.58 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $5.35 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 8.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 23.16 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 1st will be given a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 1st. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.5%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is presently 3.26%.

Universal Health Services Company 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.