Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC Makes New Investment in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm bought 13,170 shares of the health services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $2,363,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Financial Management Professionals Inc. bought a new position in Universal Health Services in the 3rd quarter worth about $32,000. True Wealth Design LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services in the third quarter worth about $39,000. Huntington National Bank boosted its position in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 145 shares during the period. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 41.8% during the second quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 251 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $46,000 after acquiring an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sentry Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $64,000. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

UHS opened at $185.65 on Monday. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12-month low of $152.68 and a 12-month high of $243.25. The company has a market cap of $12.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 1.30. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $188.65 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $207.75. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.75 by ($0.04). Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The company had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.90 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.55 EPS. Universal Health Services’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Research 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 business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 3rd were issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.43%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 3rd. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is presently 5.32%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

UHS has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. StockNews.com cut shares of Universal Health Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, November 9th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target 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. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $219.00 price objective on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Friday, October 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and reduced their target price for the company from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Finally, KeyCorp started coverage on Universal Health Services in a research note on Friday, October 11th. They set a “sector weight” rating for the company. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Universal Health Services currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $226.14.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 11th. The shares were 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 directly owns 5,879 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,123,770.85. This represents a 21.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 16.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

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.