iA Global Asset Management Inc. Has $2.15 Million Stock Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS)

iA Global Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 26.8% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 11,996 shares of the health services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,535 shares during the quarter. iA Global Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $2,152,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Magnetar Financial LLC lifted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 1,883.3% during the 4th quarter. Magnetar Financial LLC now owns 26,755 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $4,800,000 after buying an additional 25,406 shares during the last quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas increased its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 57.1% in the fourth quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 287,278 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $51,543,000 after buying an additional 104,455 shares during the period. Platinum Investment Management Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 17.6% in the fourth quarter. Platinum Investment Management Ltd. now owns 488 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $88,000 after buying an additional 73 shares during the period. Cozad Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 3.3% during the fourth quarter. Cozad Asset Management Inc. now owns 25,652 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $4,602,000 after purchasing an additional 815 shares during the period. Finally, Cibc World Markets Corp grew its stake in Universal Health Services by 15.5% during the fourth quarter. Cibc World Markets Corp now owns 9,329 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $1,674,000 after purchasing an additional 1,250 shares during the period. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms recently commented on UHS. Cantor Fitzgerald raised Universal Health Services from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. 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 report on Monday, December 16th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Universal Health Services from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $226.00 price target on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. Finally, Stephens increased their price target on Universal Health Services from $210.00 to $223.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, February 28th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $230.75.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,000 shares of the 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 directly owns 7,916 shares in the company, valued at $1,418,230.56. This represents a 11.22 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 16.10% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Shares of Universal Health Services stock opened at $174.49 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.32. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 12 month low of $152.69 and a 12 month high of $243.25. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $181.84 and its 200 day simple moving average is $199.09. 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 issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The health services provider reported $4.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.21 by $0.71. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. The firm had revenue of $4.11 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.01 billion. As a group, analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 EPS for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.46%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 3rd. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 4.75%.

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.