Principal Financial Group Inc. Trims Stock Holdings in Universal Health Services, Inc. $UHS

Principal Financial Group Inc. reduced its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) by 14.6% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 62,031 shares of the health services provider’s stock after selling 10,609 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc.’s holdings in Universal Health Services were worth $12,682,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Root Financial Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Universal Health Services during the third quarter worth $28,000. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the 2nd quarter worth about $29,000. MUFG Securities EMEA plc purchased a new position in Universal Health Services in the 2nd quarter worth about $31,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in Universal Health Services by 347.6% during the 2nd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 188 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 146 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Huntington National Bank boosted its position in Universal Health Services by 240.0% in the 2nd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 204 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 144 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 86.05% of the company’s stock.

Universal Health Services Price Performance

Shares of UHS opened at $212.62 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 0.96. Universal Health Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $152.33 and a 1-year high of $246.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.28 billion, a PE ratio of 10.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.67 and a beta of 1.26. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $215.25 and its 200-day moving average price is $205.55.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

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. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 1st. Universal Health Services’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 3.80%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Guggenheim raised their target price on shares of Universal Health Services from $253.00 to $274.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Raymond James Financial set a $270.00 price objective on Universal Health Services and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Universal Health Services in a research report on Tuesday, October 14th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $219.00 target price for the company. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Universal Health Services in a report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded Universal Health Services from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $234.13.

Universal Health Services Company 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.