Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Shares Acquired by Banco Santander S.A.

Banco Santander S.A. increased its stake in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 54.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,680 shares of the health services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,648 shares during the period. Banco Santander S.A.’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $840,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Andra AP fonden raised its position in Universal Health Services by 60.9% in the 4th quarter. Andra AP fonden now owns 145,600 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $26,124,000 after purchasing an additional 55,100 shares in the last quarter. Jackson Creek Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 3.7% in the fourth quarter. Jackson Creek Investment Advisors LLC now owns 5,316 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $954,000 after buying an additional 188 shares in the last quarter. E Fund Management Co. Ltd. raised its stake in Universal Health Services by 114.4% in the fourth quarter. E Fund Management Co. Ltd. now owns 1,887 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $339,000 after buying an additional 1,007 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the 4th quarter worth about $29,301,000. Finally, Arizona State Retirement System raised its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 17,271 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $3,099,000 after acquiring an additional 173 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total transaction of $308,516.10. Following the sale, the director now owns 5,879 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,123,770.85. The trade was a 21.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of UHS opened at $172.04 on Monday. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $11.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.44, a P/E/G ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.32. The company’s fifty day moving average is $183.85 and its two-hundred day moving average is $202.97. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1 year low of $152.68 and a 1 year high of $243.25.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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 business had revenue of $4.11 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.01 billion. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd will be issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.47%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 4.75%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

UHS has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Stephens lifted their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Barclays cut their target price on Universal Health Services from $271.00 to $249.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Cantor Fitzgerald upgraded Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. TD Cowen cut their price target on Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 26th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their price target for the stock from $228.00 to $198.00 in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $231.17.

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.