Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC Buys 3,043 Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 226.9% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 4,384 shares of the health services provider’s stock after buying an additional 3,043 shares during the quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $896,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Universal Health Services by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 2,665 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $501,000 after buying an additional 69 shares during the period. United Services Automobile Association bought a new position in Universal Health Services during the first quarter valued at $235,000. Focus Partners Wealth increased its position in Universal Health Services by 80.6% during the first quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 2,631 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $494,000 after acquiring an additional 1,174 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 16.6% in the second quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 10,029 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $1,851,000 after acquiring an additional 1,430 shares during the period. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 22.9% in the 2nd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 354 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $64,000 after acquiring an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UHS has been the topic of several analyst reports. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Universal Health Services from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Saturday, October 11th. Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a “sector perform” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Thursday, October 30th. TD Cowen decreased their price target on Universal Health Services from $251.00 to $245.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald upped their price objective on Universal Health Services from $227.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $234.13.

Universal Health Services Stock Performance

Universal Health Services stock opened at $205.03 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 1.03. The company has a market capitalization of $12.81 billion, a PE ratio of 9.74, a P/E/G ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $222.12 and a 200-day moving average price of $202.15. 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 released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The health services provider reported $5.69 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.66 by $1.03. The company had revenue of $4.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate 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 period last year, the business posted $3.71 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Universal Health Services, Inc. will post 15.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 1st were paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 1st. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.4%. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 3.80%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Elliot J. Md Mba Sussman sold 965 shares of the company’s 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 completion of the sale, 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 transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Warren J. Nimetz sold 3,817 shares of the 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 transaction, the director owned 8,481 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,893,807.30. The trade was a 31.04% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders own 16.40% of the company’s stock.

About Universal Health Services

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.