Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank Grows Stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 28.5% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 14,017 shares of the health services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 3,108 shares during the period. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $3,210,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Bridgewater Associates LP grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 20.7% during the 3rd quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP now owns 147,032 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $33,672,000 after acquiring an additional 25,266 shares in the last quarter. Freedom Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 46.3% during the 3rd quarter. Freedom Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,849 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $423,000 after acquiring an additional 585 shares in the last quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter valued at about $427,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 12.6% during the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 145,259 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $33,266,000 after acquiring an additional 16,199 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter valued at about $104,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $219.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Friday, October 25th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, November 9th. TD Cowen decreased their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $247.00 to $267.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 14th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 25th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $225.50.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of UHS stock opened at $198.30 on Wednesday. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $214.02 and its 200-day moving average price is $207.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.39. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a one year low of $133.70 and a one year high of $243.25. The firm has a market cap of $13.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.18, a P/E/G ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.75 by ($0.04). The company had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.90 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The business’s revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.55 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.93 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.40%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 5.32%.

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.