Burney Co. Sells 9,038 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

Burney Co. trimmed its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 11.8% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 67,814 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 9,038 shares during the quarter. Burney Co.’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $13,864,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of UHS. Board of the Pension Protection Fund bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the 3rd quarter worth about $961,000. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its position in shares of Universal Health Services by 16.6% during the second quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 10,029 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $1,851,000 after buying an additional 1,430 shares during the period. Capital Fund Management S.A. raised its position in Universal Health Services by 12.9% in the 2nd quarter. Capital Fund Management S.A. now owns 94,086 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $17,044,000 after buying an additional 10,754 shares during the last quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC raised its position in Universal Health Services by 66.1% in the 3rd quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 42,198 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $8,627,000 after buying an additional 16,789 shares during the last quarter. Finally, QRG Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in Universal Health Services by 102.4% in the 2nd quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 4,820 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $873,000 after acquiring an additional 2,438 shares in the last quarter. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 0.2%

Universal Health Services stock opened at $227.63 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 0.96. The company’s 50-day moving average is $225.93 and its 200-day moving average is $197.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $14.22 billion, a PE ratio of 10.81, a P/E/G ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 1.27. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $152.33 and a fifty-two week high of $246.32.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The health services provider reported $5.69 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.66 by $1.03. The business had revenue of $4.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.32 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 19.47% and a net margin of 8.09%.Universal Health Services’s quarterly revenue was up 13.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $3.71 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Investors of record on Monday, December 1st were issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 1st. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.4%. Universal Health Services’s payout ratio is presently 3.80%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of Universal Health Services in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $219.00 price target for the company. Zacks Research raised shares of Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued a “sector perform” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. Morgan Stanley set a $233.00 price objective on Universal Health Services in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Finally, Guggenheim upped their target price on Universal Health Services from $253.00 to $274.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 2nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $234.14.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Elliot J. Md Mba Sussman sold 965 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $225.70, for a total value of $217,800.50. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 6,113 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,379,704.10. This represents a 13.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,817 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $223.30, for a total transaction of $852,336.10. Following the sale, the director owned 8,481 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,893,807.30. This represents a 31.04% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 16.40% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Universal Health Services Profile

Universal Health Services, Inc (NYSE: UHS) is one of the largest diversified health care management companies in the United States, offering a broad spectrum of services through its acute care hospital and behavioral health segments. The company operates general acute care hospitals, surgical hospitals and ambulatory centers, as well as inpatient and outpatient behavioral health facilities. Its network provides emergency and specialized medicine, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, advanced surgical care and rehabilitation, complemented by a comprehensive array of behavioral services including psychiatric treatment, addiction programs and developmental disabilities care.

In the acute care segment, UHS’s facilities deliver services ranging from emergency department treatment and intensive care to maternity care and outpatient surgery.