iA Global Asset Management Inc. Has $2.17 Million Stock Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

iA Global Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 123.1% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 9,461 shares of the health services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 5,220 shares during the period. iA Global Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $2,167,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 4.2% during the 2nd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 1,160 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $215,000 after buying an additional 47 shares during the period. LRI Investments LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 19.5% during the second quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 386 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $71,000 after acquiring an additional 63 shares during the period. Empirical Finance LLC boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 5,704 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $1,306,000 after purchasing an additional 64 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE boosted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,238 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $512,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quarry LP grew its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 14.4% in the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 516 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $118,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of UHS stock opened at $194.22 on Monday. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $210.73 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $208.11. 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 52-week low of $133.70 and a 52-week high of $243.25. The stock has a market cap of $12.81 billion, a PE ratio of 12.91, a PEG ratio of 0.62 and a beta of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates 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 for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.90 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.55 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.88 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be given a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.41%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio is 5.32%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. KeyCorp started coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Friday, October 11th. They issued a “sector weight” rating on the stock. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on Universal Health Services from $236.00 to $274.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 4th. Barclays increased their price target on Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, October 25th. TD Cowen cut their price objective on Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, November 26th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald restated a “neutral” rating and set a $219.00 target price on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Friday, October 25th. Six research 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 company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $225.50.

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.