Cornercap Investment Counsel Inc. Reduces Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Cornercap Investment Counsel Inc. reduced its position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 3.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 8,395 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 306 shares during the period. Cornercap Investment Counsel Inc.’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $1,506,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UHS. R Squared Ltd acquired a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Quent Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 118.3% during the fourth quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 179 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 97 shares during the period. True Wealth Design LLC purchased a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the third quarter worth about $39,000. Campbell Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in Universal Health Services in the 4th quarter valued at about $46,000. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $69,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $179.16, for a total transaction of $179,160.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 7,916 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,418,230.56. The trade was a 11.22 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 16.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have weighed in on UHS shares. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their target price for the company from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 10th. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $271.00 to $249.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $226.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. Finally, Morgan Stanley began coverage on Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday. They issued an “equal weight” rating and a $200.00 price target for the company. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $228.38.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

NYSE UHS opened at $186.11 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $152.69 and a fifty-two week high of $243.25. The business has a fifty day moving average of $181.91 and a 200-day moving average of $197.39. The stock has a market cap of $12.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.32.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.21 by $0.71. Universal Health Services had a net margin of 6.66% and a return on equity of 15.75%. The firm had revenue of $4.11 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.01 billion. As a group, analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 3rd were given a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.43%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 4.75%.

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.