Norges Bank Acquires Shares of 460,024 Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm bought 460,024 shares of the health services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $83,333,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Invesco Ltd. grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 6.0% in the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,315,468 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $247,176,000 after purchasing an additional 74,128 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 9.0% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,241,738 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $233,311,000 after buying an additional 102,137 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 57.8% during the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 931,355 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $173,381,000 after buying an additional 340,966 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.5% during the second quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 926,669 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $167,866,000 after buying an additional 31,201 shares during the period. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 0.8% in the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 639,524 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $115,850,000 after acquiring an additional 4,932 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have issued reports on UHS shares. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $249.00 to $259.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, November 13th. Cantor Fitzgerald increased their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $227.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Raymond James Financial set a $270.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $219.00 target price for the company. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a “sector perform” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Thursday, October 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $234.14.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,817 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 11th. The shares were 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 $1,893,807.30. This trade represents a 31.04% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Elliot J. Md Mba Sussman sold 965 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $225.70, for a total transaction of $217,800.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 6,113 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,379,704.10. This trade represents a 13.63% 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 company insiders.

Universal Health Services Trading Up 0.3%

NYSE:UHS opened at $230.79 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.96, a PEG ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.27. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 52 week low of $152.33 and a 52 week high of $246.32. The company has a quick ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $218.85 and a 200 day moving average of $193.59.

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

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

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

About Universal Health Services

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.