Ieq Capital LLC Acquires 11,494 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Ieq Capital LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 420.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 14,228 shares of the health services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 11,494 shares during the quarter. Ieq Capital LLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $2,553,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 102.0% during the third quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 210,926 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $48,304,000 after buying an additional 106,517 shares during the last quarter. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd bought a new stake in Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter valued at $18,709,000. Mizuho Securities USA LLC lifted its stake in Universal Health Services by 2,101.2% in the 3rd quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC now owns 101,188 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $23,173,000 after purchasing an additional 96,591 shares in the last quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter valued at about $21,557,000. Finally, Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 70.8% during the third quarter. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC now owns 214,379 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $49,095,000 after purchasing an additional 88,872 shares in the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related 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 transaction of $308,516.10. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 5,879 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,123,770.85. The trade was a 21.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of UHS opened at $179.93 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The firm has a market cap of $11.87 billion, a PE ratio of 11.96, a P/E/G ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.30. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12 month low of $152.68 and a 12 month high of $243.25. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $184.27 and a 200-day moving average price of $206.13.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd will be paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.44%. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is 5.32%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UHS has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. StockNews.com downgraded Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, November 9th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on 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. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $226.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $226.14.

Universal Health Services Company 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.