Los Angeles Capital Management LLC Raises Stock Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Los Angeles Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 28.4% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 270,759 shares of the health services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 59,833 shares during the quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $48,580,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. R Squared Ltd purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services in the fourth quarter valued at about $29,000. Financial Management Professionals Inc. purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services in the third quarter valued at about $32,000. Quent Capital LLC raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 118.3% in the fourth quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 179 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. True Wealth Design LLC purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services in the third quarter valued at about $39,000. Finally, Huntington National Bank raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 414.3% in the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 180 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 145 shares during the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of Universal Health Services stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total transaction of $308,516.10. Following the transaction, the director now owns 5,879 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,123,770.85. This trade represents a 21.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on Universal Health Services from $222.00 to $211.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $226.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 25th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their price objective for the company from $228.00 to $198.00 in a report on Monday, December 16th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $226.14.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

NYSE UHS opened at $181.21 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $11.95 billion, a PE ratio of 12.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.30. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $184.21 and its 200-day simple moving average is $205.83. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $152.68 and a 1-year high of $243.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 3rd will be given a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.44%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 5.32%.

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.