Carrera Capital Advisors Reduces Position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Carrera Capital Advisors lowered its holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 41.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 10,873 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 7,651 shares during the period. Carrera Capital Advisors’ holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $2,490,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of UHS. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 0.8% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 7,099,282 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $1,295,335,000 after buying an additional 57,036 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its stake in Universal Health Services by 0.5% during the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 486,438 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $89,957,000 after purchasing an additional 2,620 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 362.3% during the 2nd quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 322,626 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $59,663,000 after acquiring an additional 252,846 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 357.9% in the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 261,221 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $48,308,000 after purchasing an additional 204,178 shares during the period. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 1,191.8% during the first quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 215,215 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $39,267,000 after acquiring an additional 198,555 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:UHS traded down $3.75 on Tuesday, hitting $204.81. 150,962 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 678,408. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.39. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $223.83 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $204.65. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a one year low of $129.34 and a one year high of $243.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.87, a PEG ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.29.

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

Universal Health Services announced that its board has authorized a stock buyback program on Wednesday, July 24th that permits the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization permits the health services provider to reacquire up to 8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are typically an indication that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UHS has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Stephens reissued an “equal weight” rating and set a $200.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Thursday, July 25th. StockNews.com lowered Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $200.00 to $229.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 30th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $219.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Friday, October 25th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $231.14.

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.